Dannevirke: Tweaks in plan aim to reflect your needs

Submissions to the long-term plan supported Horizons Regional Council's work in road safety.

Horizons Regional Council approved amendments to its Long-term Plan last week, determining what work should be funded and how over the next 10 years.

Horizons chairman Bruce Gordon said the community could rest assured they had been listened to and councillors had worked hard to develop a plan that reflected community needs.

"Some worthy projects were put forward in the 187 submissions we received, leading to some robust debates. As always, it was a balancing act. Affordability and core business were key considerations as we made our final decisions," Gordon said.

"I think as a council we can take heart from the fact that many of the submissions we received were supportive of work currently underway and I would like to thank all those who took the time to have their say."

In a consultation document distributed in April, Horizons sought community feedback on six key issues: Weed harvesting in Lake Horowhenua; the Palmerston North bus network review; exiting council's role in road safety; changes in Animal Health Board funding; consideration of an increase in funding for the Sustainable Land Use Initiative (SLUI); and increasing its level of knowledge through an enhanced water quality and quantity monitoring programme and upgrades to its flood plain and earthquake risk assessment.

As a result of submissions, deliberations and updated information from the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA), council has resolved to continue its work in road safety education, which it had previously proposed to exit.

"Many submissions came in expressing support for Horizons' work in road safety. We also received confirmation from NZTA that funding assistance would continue at an average rate of 64 per cent for years two and three of the plan."

Council also resolved to half fund the Lake Horowhenua weed harvesting project in year one of the plan before moving to full funding in years two and three. Council will make improvements to the Palmerston North bus network in year three; fund $175,000 for Animal Health Board work in the 2015/16 financial year made up of targeted rates and reserves; increase the SLUI Uniform Annual Charge to $40.54 by year three and increase water quality and quantity monitoring as per the consultation document.

In addition, council resolved to contribute to the continuation of the Capital Connection rail service over the next three years, contingent on funding from Greater Wellington and the Ministry of Transport.

Council supported a submission from the region's mayors to fund the Regional Growth Study in years one to three at a rate of up to $230,000 per annum funded from council reserves in year one.

All submitters will receive a response advising of the outcome of council's deliberations. The final Long-term Plan will be released for audit and adopted by council at a meeting on June 30.