Consultation on the Central Otago District Council’s 2025-34 long-term plan opened at the beginning of this month and will close on May 1.
A student survey for under-17 year olds was launched at the same time, part of a larger strategy to hear from groups which did not tend to engage with the council, including youth, young families and migrants.
Community Vision group manager Dylan Rushbrook said there were plenty of topics in the plan the council expected students to have opinions about — "[we] want to hear directly from them".
Consultation on the plan includes nine key topics, which includes use of pools, artificial turfs and halls across the district.
As of Tuesday, the council had received 282 submissions and 235 student responses.
The council had heard from youth through other surveys and found their feedback "invaluable" when considering policies which, Mr Rushbrook said.
"These young people may be the elected members of the future representing their community so it’s really great they are having their say now."
Mr Rushbrook said there had been some suggestion young people would not be fiscally responsible because they were not paying for the council policies.
"Through the responses we’ve already seen that the youth are making smart, articulate arguments for or against different initiatives," he said.
"Given the cycle of life, it will indeed be the youth of today paying for much of our future, so why shouldn’t they have their views considered through this process?"
The survey results will be considered as part of the long-term plan deliberations and decisions.
