ORC Draft Annual Plan released for public consultation
The Otago Regional Council (ORC) has released its Draft Annual Plan to the public for consultation.
ORC Chairman Stephen Cairns said despite Council continuing its busy programme the general rate will be kept at the same level of last year at $4.47 million (excluding GST).
"Given the level of activity in terms of works programmes including river management, compliance monitoring, community education and other resource management activities it is pleasing that we can keep the general rate at the same level as last year," Cr Cairns said.
The Draft Annual Plan serves as an update of the information in the 2009-19 Long Term Council Community Plan (LTCCP) in terms of the 2010/11 year.
Key items of interest in the plan include:
- Increased bus services in Queenstown from 1 July 2010
- Continuation of Leith Lindsay Flood protection works
- Lower Taieri, West and East Taieri flood protection and drainage schemes
- Shotover Delta flood protection
- Discussions on an operational merger between Port Otago and the Port of Lyttleton.
"We expect that during the year, the board of Port Otago will make a recommendation to Council and ask for a decision on a possible merger of operating activities with the Lyttleton Port Company and have notified this in the plan," Cr Cairns said.
"I am extremely pleased with the support the initiative to boost bus services in Queenstown has received and look forward to seeing improved services start in July," he said.
"Another project provided for in the LTCCP is the construction of a training line (a rock and gravel structure) on the Shotover Delta. The training line will assure that the Shotover River enters the Kawarau River on the eastern side of the delta, thus reducing the flood risk in the area," Cr Cairns said.
ORC staff are available to answer any questions from individuals or groups that wish discuss the plan or proposed activities in it.
A copy, or CD of the plan, can be obtained from ORC offices in Dunedin, Queenstown and Alexandra, or at city and district council service centres.
You can request a copy by phoning the ORC on 03 474 0827, or toll free 0800 474 082, or email a request to annual.plan@orc.govt.nz
Annual plan documents can also be downloaded from the ORC website www.orc.govt.nz
Submissions close on Monday 3 May 2010 and people may present their submissions at meetings starting a week later on May 10.