416 submissions for draft annual plan

The Whakatane District Council’s draft Annual Plan 2008/09 has received 416 submissions, raising over 700 submission points. The submissions cover a number of key issues such as the proposed Disaster Mitigation Funding Policy, rate rises, the proposed crematorium and seal extensions.

With regard to the proposed Disaster Mitigation Funding Policy, submitters expressed concern about affordability and many asked for the funding burden to be spread across the district. The policy uses a three-tier formula of catchment (25%), community (25%) and district-wide (50%). The catchment is identified as the area of immediate and direct benefit. However the 185 submissions, 128 from Matata, 32 from Edgecumbe and 25 from Otarawairere/West End believe that the work is of greater benefit to the District as a whole.

The proposed rates rise attracted 167 submissions (146 from Edgecumbe community). Submitters asked the Council to take into account issues of affordability for people on fixed incomes. The majority of submitters from Edgecumbe community expressed concern at the rates rise, as they believe it will be unaffordable in the current environment of increasing costs of living.

Twenty-two submissions were received on the proposed crematorium with submitters asking the Council to reconsider the building of a chapel and also to give serious consideration to the suggestion of using an old church building as a chapel.

There were a range of other submission topics including seal extensions, provision of drinking water and proposals on the review of community funding. The Council is currently reviewing how to fund community activities following a large number of requests for funding from sports clubs, community and youth groups last year.

The Council will hear from about 100 submitters that wish to speak to their submissions from Wednesday 21 to Friday 23 May 2007. Deliberations on the submissions will take place on 26, 27, 30 May and 3 & 4 June 2008. The Annual Plan is scheduled to be adopted by the Council on 30 June 2008.