Majority of small vote say council off track on LTP

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

A question on how Gisborne District Council is doing will always bring a range of answers.

This week’s Herald web poll asked online readers, “From what you know of the council’s draft Long Term Plan, do you think it is on the right track?”

The result was comparatively small to other polls. Only 194 people voted and only 10 people commented.

The majority (70 percent) voted that the council was not on the right track with the draft Long Term Plan.

Those who did think GDC was doing the right things made up 17 percent of voters and 13 percent ticked the “don’t know” option.

These are the comments from the “no” voters:

“With the arrogant attitude of this council, they are not likely to listen to anything we say. They have shown this with their ignoring the majority public opinion shown on the name Poverty Bay for our region.”

“The council has proved in so many instances that it is never on the right track.”

“Forestry and rural road costs are being loaded on to city ratepayers.”

“I join the chorus — fix the wastewater, stopbanks, and leave the cycleways and pool until ratepayers can afford them.”

“Infrastructure is being ignored in place of bright lights.”

“Mindlessly following agenda 21. A bunch of troughers totally sold out to the globalist agenda. Very sad but hard to stop.”

“Long-term being the operative word!”

“No doubt our useless councillors will disregard the result of this poll and do what suits them. Representatives? Bag o’shite!”

One respondent who voted “don’t know” said, “I’m unsure. Is there a guarantee that no more wastewater will go into the moana? I’ll be happier if that is dealt with.”

Two of the “yes” voters had “some reservations.”

“We need to get the basics right, things like wastewater and sewage,” said one.

“The plan covers those so I am happy.”