The New Plymouth District Council is asking residents to share their priorities as early planning kicks off for the 2027-2037 10-year Plan.
The survey launched today asks locals to rank the council services they value most and indicate where they believe future investment should be directed. It also tackles the ongoing balancing act between maintaining service levels and managing rates, fees and charges.
New Plymouth District Mayor Max Brough said community feedback is essential to shape the difficult choices ahead. He noted the council laid out its building blocks with the recent Annual Plan by focusing on efficiency and minimising the impact on ratepayers while prioritising essential services.
"Now is when we have a real opportunity to put a stake in the ground and come up with a plan that will help build towards our vision to make this district resilient today, thriving tomorrow," Brough said.
"Before we put a draft plan together, we want to know what’s most important to our community. What should we protect, what needs to improve and where we should focus for the future."
The Mayor acknowledged that balancing the budget over the next decade will require tough decisions.
"Investing more in services and improvements comes at a price, while keeping costs down may mean changing services or altering workloads, so we want to know what trade-offs locals are willing to accept and where do you want us to prioritise," he said.
Brough added that the cost-of-living focus from last year's election sent a clear message from voters. He encouraged everyone to take the online survey or speak with council staff at drop-in sessions across the district.
Alongside the 10-year Plan survey, the district's five Community Boards in Inglewood, Clifton, Puketapu-Bell Block, Waitara and Kaitake are also asking for public input. They are seeking feedback on draft plans that outline their vision, key issues and future opportunities for investment over the next three years.
The community feedback gathered will help inform the draft 10-year Plan before it is released for formal public consultation in early 2027.
How to have your say - info below 👇
