The region’s course for the next decade has been laid out in a way that the Taranaki Regional Council says will ensure prudent management of resources even as bold new ambitions are confidently embraced.

The Council today (15 May) adopted its Long-Term Plan 2018/2028, taking a business-as-planned approach to all of its activities but also aiming to lift two key programmes to new levels of achievement. These are:

• Biodiversity protection – giving Taranaki a leadership role in making a reality of New Zealand’s aspiration to be predator-free by 2050.

• Recreation and culture – building on recent exciting developments to further cement Pukeiti’s status as a visitor destination with wide international appeal.

“We’re taking these steps out of a strong conviction that the region has what it takes to overcome current uncertainties, meet fresh challenges and secure a better future for its people, environment and economy,” says the Council Chairman, David MacLeod.

“This conviction is based on years of working alongside the community to achieve good results. This is particularly the case in biosecurity and protection of biodiversity, so we’re excited at the prospect of joining with like-minded partners to widen this work to embrace New Zealand’s Predator-Free 20150 aspiration.”

The Long-Term Plan was adopted following public consultation that drew 55 submissions. Twenty-five of the submitters presented their suggestions in person at a Council hearing last week.

These resulted in minor amendments to programmes and budgets set out in the draft plan. The rating impact amounts to just cents per week, or $10-$20 more a year, for most residential ratepayers in the region.

Mr MacLeod says the Council remains firmly focused on its core activities of resource management, biosecurity, hazard management, transport, recreation and culture, and regional advocacy. And he says it is confident about its plans to build on recent gains in freshwater quality, to develop its education programme, and to broaden and deepen its relationship with iwi and hapū.

The Long-Term Plan takes effect on 1 July 2018. The finalised document will be available on the Council’s website, www.trc.govt.nz.

ENDS

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