Tararua Community Outcomes More Smiles Than Scowls

A Community Outcomes Monitoring report measuring the expectations of local residents against a three year old action plan has put the Tararua district under its own spotlight.

Community outcomes are high-level statements describing the type of society its residents aspire to. They are reflected in the four ‘well beings’ - social, economic, environmental and cultural - that must underpin a local authority’s decision making on behalf of its district.

The report compiled by Planning Solutions consultant Anne Hilson is a three yearly requirement to update the Long Term Council Community Plan (LTCCP) and will be considered next week by the council.

Fundamental to the community outcomes process is that having identified its aspirations the community must take ownership.

“Community outcomes belong to the community not to the council,” Ms Hilson notes in her report.

The district first considered its community outcomes in 2004 in a detailed process in which the council consulted with 34 different organisations.

Ten common themes emerged which were ranked into six community priorities. In order these were a safer community, access to local services, a high standard of infrastructure, a sustainable natural environment, a strong prosperous economy and a connected community.

So how do the outcomes appear three years later and are they on target when measured against the action plan?

Using a variety of data sources including DannevirkePolice and a recent Communitrak Survey, ‘smiley face’ images denoting performance – or lack of it – indicate that overall there is more to smile or to feel okay about than to scowl.

Among the performance indicators the report considered: a community free from crime, violence, abuse or harm; access to local hospital and health services, education and training programmes, telecommunication, childcare and retail services; a transport network that provides for safe and convenient movement of people and goods, along with attractive towns and public amenities; a vibrant prosperous community and a district that attracts visitors and retains residents; a natural environment that is preserved and protected, and a community with access to sport and recreation, that has its wishes and needs listened to, supports arts and culture and celebrates its heritage.

Outcomes to score the most smiles were access to local services and a sustainable natural environment while the most scowls were awarded to a strong prosperous economy and a connected community.

Among the report’s recommendations are that it be made available to the public. It’s an interesting read.