Councillors Take to the Airwaves to Answer your Questions

Deputy Mayor Gary Kircher and Councillor Pam Spite will be on air on Thursday 8th May from 9 – 10am on Radio Waitaki (1395 AM) to answer questions from the community on the 2008/09 Draft Annual Plan. Waitaki District Council is consulting on the Draft Plan, which has information on proposed Council projects and rates for next year, until Tuesday 13th May.

This years Draft Annual Plan proposes a total rates increase of 6.4%. Individual ratepayers will face differing rate increases, depending on a number of factors, such as the services they receive. The Council’s 2006 - 2016 Community Plan of Council services and expenditure indicated that in 2008/09 rates were expected to increase by 6.8%.

Councillor Kircher said of the talkback session, “This is a new initiative for the Council which offers the public a new way to find out information about what we have planned for next year. We would encourage people to listen in and contact us with any questions.”

Two public meetings in Palmerston and Oamaru to discuss the Draft Plan have been held within the past week. Both meetings were well attended and a further meeting is planned in Kurow at the Memorial Hall this evening at 7pm. Consultation on the Draft Plan is being undertaken until Tuesday 13th May and Council welcomes submissions from the public.