Tararua's long-term plan no boring, sleep-inducing document

Tararua District councillors, led by district mayor Tracey Collis, front in blue, tour district assets. Photo/Supplied

There are seven key projects in the Tararua District Council's long-term plan, which has been drafted to be as interesting as possible.

"We've been told you could use council documents as anaesthetic in hospitals," Tararua District Mayor Tracey Collis said.

But she said the latest long-term consultation document was more user-friendly.

"This is about our district coming together and I'm working to get great engagement with people," Mrs Collis said.

The closure of the Manawatu Gorge since April last year has been the game changer for the council but the impact of Horizons Regional Council's One Plan was also very significant.

With the need for our district to be the best connected, Mrs Collis said it was vital everyone "puts their shoulder to the plough" with connectivity community-led and driven.

"The lack of connectivity is one of the greatest obstacles holding us back," she said.

"And Route 52 poses significant challenges for us too.

"For a small population that road needs a lot of money spent on it and the question we have to ask is how much would this community like to invest in it."

Three options for Route 52 were put forward in the draft long-term plan, with the council preferring the upgrade of 25km between the Weber junction and the Central Hawke's Bay boundary.

The capital cost would be $10.5 million over years one to four of the long-term plan, with the council required to fund $1.8m from loans and $1.8m from depreciation reserves.

The New Zealand Transport Agency would fund the remaining $6.9m.

The council also proposed to pipe Eketahuna's wastewater to Pahiatua, instead of building a new wastewater treatment plant in the southern Tararua town.

"If we can run a pipeline from Eketahuna to Pahiatua we will save the costs of three renewal cost periods," Mrs Collis said.

The council earlier decided to retain its pensioner housing stock, rather than selling, with the council's preferred option to refurbish and invest in building new units.

"Pensioner housing is self-funding and has no impact on rates," Mark Maxwell, council economic development and communications manager, said.

"They are rented out at slightly lower than market rates because of the social aspect of this housing."

With the demand for housing in the district, there was a waiting list for the flats, with the council owning 67 one-bed units and 12 two-bed units in Dannevirke, Woodville, Pahiatua and Eketahuna.

Other key projects in the plan included, stormwater, utility networks and seal extensions.

Have your say:
• On April 9 the Tararua District Council's long-term plan will be released for 30 days of public consultation.
• Between April 16 and 30 the council embarks on a consultation road show, taking to the streets of our towns.
• May 22, council hearings of public submissions on the long-term plan.