Have Your Say on the 2014/15 Draft Annual Plan

Dunedin, 13 March 2014 – Whether it’s support for further funding incentives for the reuse of heritage buildings or a proposed weighbridge at the Green Island Landfill, the Dunedin City Council wants to hear your views.

Public submissions on the DCC’s 2014/15 Draft Annual Plan open on Saturday and close at 5pm on 15 April. People are encouraged to make an early submission and, if possible, use an online form.

The Draft Annual Plan is the DCC’s biggest consultation process for the year and residents and ratepayers should take the opportunity to have their say.

Mayor of Dunedin Dave Cull says, “The Draft Annual Plan sets out the proposed priorities for the year ahead and where money should be spent. We now need feedback from the city’s residents to tell us what you see as important.”

Reducing debt continues to be a key focus, but the Council also wants to provide small seed investments which could reap considerably greater returns. These include support for heritage building owners to redevelop and/or strengthen their properties, seed funding towards a community trust to drive the development of a new pool in Mosgiel and modest investments into planning for food resilience and energy efficiency, Mr Cull says.

A summary of what is planned for the 2014/15 year, presented in a map fold newsletter, will be delivered to every Dunedin household from today. Once consultation has started, there will be detailed information on the DCC website and copies of the full Plan, as well as static displays, will be available at DCC facilities such as libraries and museums.

There will also be public meetings and roadshows held around the wider city during the submission period.

The DCC is consulting on a wide range of proposed projects and initiatives, such as in what order widening work on Portobello and Harington Point Roads should be done and proposed changes to the Development Contributions Policy.

Some changes to fees and charges are also planned, such as increases to fees for dangerous dogs, LIMs and in some Building Services areas and a rise in St Clair Hot Salt Water Pool charges to match those at Moana Pool.

Last year’s Draft Annual Plan attracted 262 submissions, covering 190 topics.

Further details and an online submission form will be available at www.dunedin.govt.nz/draft-annual-plan from 7am on Saturday.

ENDS

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