Tauranga City Council’s commissioners have confirmed that this week’s draft 2024-34 Long-term Plan submissions hearings have provided “valuable food for thought” as they prepare for the next stage of the LTP process.

Commission Chair Anne Tolley says the commissioners were heartened by the energy, passion and commitment of those who submitted from the sport, recreation, culture and arts sectors of the community.

“The city is fortunate to have so many hard-working and committed volunteers in the not-for-profit and sports club sectors who add so much to the wellbeing of our community.”

Some 2200 submissions on the draft plan were received late last year and this week, 119 organisations and individuals took the opportunity to present their views directly to the commissioners this week.

Anne says it’s particularly useful to hear directly from submitters and have the opportunity to seek clarification on the issues raised.

“We now have useful information on many of the points raised by submitters and will be able to take that into consideration during next month’s deliberations,” she says.

“Council staff will also be preparing issues and options reports on all of the substantive matters, so that we can make fully informed decisions which take all aspects into consideration.”

Anne emphasises that no decisions have been made on either the draft LTP or the fees and charges proposals consulted on with the community and says the final LTP must deliver outcomes which are in the best interests of the community as a whole.

“That requires a carefully balanced approach, which means that some submitters may not get what they have asked for, but whether or not that is the case, responses will be made to all submission points which will explain why we have arrived at the decisions made.”

The final LTP and Council Fees and Charges are expected to be adopted in late-April.