Central Otago District Council (CODC) has opened for feedback on its proposed Long-term Plan 2021-2031 (LTP) and is pulling out all the stops to get your attention and action.

Communications Coordinator Maria De Cort said the four-week consultation period was packed with opportunities for the community to engage and to do so in a way that hopefully worked for them.

“Our key approach this LTP consultation is that we will be trying to go to where people are, following that old proverb of ‘taking the mountain to Mohammed’. 

“As resources allow a team of elected reps (councillors and community board members) and CODC staff will be popping up at events and meetings to promote the consultation, as well as hosting in person drop-in events, online drop-ins and Q+A sessions on local radio – to cater for the many ways we know our community gets its information.”

Central Otago District Councillor Tracy Paterson. 

Public engagement kicked off on Friday with CEO Sanchia Jacobs and Mayor Tim Cadogan attending the Alexandra, Clyde & Districts Business Group business breakfast and then Vincent ward councillors and community board members chatted with the community in the sunshine at the Alexandra Friday markets. 

Over the weekend staff hopped along to the Alexandra Parents Centre Easter Egg Hunt to talk with parents and grandparents, while handing out colouring-in contests to the kids, and Sunday some great conversations were had at the Cromwell Market.

This week’s events include the first of a series of meetings with youth council representatives around the district and an on-air Q+A session hosted by Radio Central on Thursday between 9-10am.

“We often get told people are too busy to make meetings and drop-ins, or that ‘not everyone is online’ so partnering up with our local radio station to offer a “talkback style” opportunity is our way of trying to cover all bases. 

“Anyone can tune in via radio, online or the TuneIn app, or if they’re busy at that time we’ll have the audio files for listening to later while they’re mutli-taking. Too easy!” said Maria.

Mayor Tim Cadogan said he couldn’t stress enough how important it was for Council to hear from people from all parts of the community and all parts of the district.

“Renters and ratepayers, young and old, the ‘long-time-listener-first-time-callers’ as well as seasoned submitters, the fifth generationers to those who’ve moved here five months ago, … all of you, consider this your invite to get involved!”

Tim said people should expect to see a postcard in their letterboxes this week (if they hadn’t already) signed by him and his team of Councillors that they should see as their personal invite to get involved in helping frame the future of their district.

“A simple way of describing our Long-term Plan is that it is our 10-year budget for all the activities and services that Council delivers. We want to include our community in that conversation about where rates get spent and on what. 

“We are inviting feedback in particular on a handful of key consultation items where there are options for how we proceed, and we need the community to give us that steer on what direction we take.”

Councillor Stephen Jeffery with Teviot Valley Youth Council. 

The five key issues are how a district museum function is delivered, how to progress the Cromwell Masterplan, and proposals to support three community-led projects – the Roxburgh community pool upgrade, Alexandra Riverside Park development, and the Omakau Community Hub.

The Ka Aka Whakamua - Framing our Future consultation document, which outlines key proposals for community feedback, and the online submission form are available on Council's website www.codc.govt.nz/framing-our-future and hard copies are available at Council service centres and libraries. 

The website also contains supporting information to the consultation document for those keen to delve into the detail and a list of engagement opportunities for those who want to find out more and ask questions before making their submission.

Submissions close Sunday 25 April (Anzac Day)