Deadline extended for draft District Plan feedback

Following strong community interest in Rotorua’s draft District Plan and requests for extra time to prepare feedback Rotorua District Council (RDC) is extending the submission period through until 1 July.

RDC chief executive Peter Guerin said he was encouraged by the amount of interest in the draft district plan from a broad cross-section of the community, including individuals, government agencies, consultants and local Iwi.

“The draft district plan tackles some key issues facing Rotorua such as improving water quality, revitalising the city centre, the need for economic growth, maintaining urban and rural amenity, and facilitating development of Maori owned land. So in one way or another, this document will affect everyone in the district to some degree.”

Mr Guerin said council staff members have been contacted by members of the community requesting more time to make comments on the plan.

“We’re happy to provide that extra time and we’ve therefore extended the closing date for feedback to 1 July. The draft plan includes a significant amount of information, and we want the community to have enough time to digest the information and every opportunity to make an informed comment on it. “

The draft District Plan will remain available for inspection at the council Civic Centre, district library and City Focus until 1 July when council staff will begin summarising feedback received for discussion by the mayor and councillors.

The full draft District Plan can be viewed online at www.fresh-ideas.co.nz .