Making South Taranaki the "most liveable district in New Zealand" is the guiding vision behind the South Taranaki District Council's proposed long-term plan.
The document was adopted for public feedback at a special meeting last Friday.
South Taranaki District Mayor Ross Dunlop says the council has identified a number of priorities to work towards achieving this vision, including building the new centre for heritage, arts, library, culture and information (CHALCI).
Ross says previously, the council's focus has been on upgrading the district's water infrastructure, key community facilities and implementing projects designed to make South Taranaki a desirable place to live and do business.
"We are now in the enviable position of having completed many of the costly upgrades that a lot of councils' are still facing.
"We now have a much improved and reliable water network and, since our last long-term plan three years ago, we have progressed the Hawera Town Centre redevelopment, District Pathways Programme, Opunake Beach Masterplan and the new regional landfill."
He says the council's focus for the next 10 years is to complete these key projects, maintain our current assets and core services and improve our wastewater infrastructure.
"At the same time the council is conscious of the need to keep rates affordable, so we are funding many of our key projects with existing reserves and earnings from the Council's Long Term Investment Fund, rather than through rates." The plan proposes a total rate increase of 3.08 per year over the next 10 years.
"We believe our proposed long-term plan strikes the right balance between progress, providing the services and facilities our communities expect and affordability, but now we want to know what our residents think."
A consultation document will be delivered to South Taranaki households this week.
It covers the key issues and proposals in the 2018-2028 Long Term Plan, including the main projects and services the Council intends to carry out and the impact on rates over the next ten years.
Consultation on the proposed Long Term Plan starts on March 26 and runs until Wednesday May 2.