Central Otago residents are taking their last opportunity to make verbal submissions to the Central Otago District Council, in respect of its long-term council community plan (LTCCP) for the next 10 years.
A special hearing of the council began in Alexandra yesterday, at which almost 30 submitters spoke to members about concerns and suggestions they had on the 2009-19 plan.
Rates increases, development contributions, waste minimisation, and dairying were among issues raised by several individuals and organisations.
Some submitters called for dairying expansion to be halted until the industry adopted better practices to prevent the Manuherikia and Upper Taieri rivers from pollution.
Others called for payment of development contributions to be delayed until sections had sold, and for a rates remission on unsold sections, to alleviate financial pressure on developers in today's recession.
Some CODC staff and councillors also made submissions relating to changes in the way the council operated, most of which were minor technical amendments.
Many submissions on the plan were considered by community board members within each of the district's four wards at meetings this month.
Vincent, Cromwell, Maniototo, and Roxburgh community board members heard all submissions relating to parts of the plan affecting their individual wards.
Comments and recommended changes by the boards have been included in the council's special hearing agenda for final consideration this week.
The council will make its final changes to the plan in light of submissions during and after today's hearing, before the plan is prepared for approval in June.
The plan is expected to become operational on July 1.
