Long term plan needed as population rises in Tararua

Way forward: Tararua District mayor Tracey Collis reveals the seven key points for the district council's draft, long term plan at a lunch meeting on Wednesday.

Tararua District Council draft long term plan key dates:
* March councillors will adopt the plan.
* April 9 document released for public consultation.
* Submissions can be made until May 11.

In August last year the Tararua District Council began its community conversations about the future of our district.

"We talked about what we love about Tararua, the challenges our communities are facing and the opportunities," Tararua District mayor Tracey Collis said.

And with the population of Tararua increasing after 20 years of decline, and it's even more important our district has a robust plan for the future, Mrs Collis said on Wednesday at a lunchtime presentation of the draft long term consultation document.

"In Eketahuna, you can't buy a house, when one comes on to the market, it's sold," she said.

"We have to plan our future and how we'll fund it for the next 10 years and when a decision is made on the future of the Manawatu Gorge, I'm certain we'll see housing development across Tararua."

Mrs Collis said it's important our community is engaged in the long term plan and the draft document will now go to council's auditors before councillors adopt it in March. It will then be open for public consultation and submissions on April 9.

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

The draft consultation document is also now more user-friendly.

"People told us you could use council documents as an anaesthetic in hospital,' Mrs Collis said.

The council intends to hold roadshows and barbecues across the district for people to discuss the document.

"We want plenty of input and when population growth comes, we will be well positioned," Mrs Collis said.

"My personal goal is to get great involvement with our community and I will be measuring myself on this."