Long-term Plan 2024-34 submissions being heard this week

Environment Southland has received 326 submissions on its draft Long-term Plan consultation document, Investing in Southland Whakangao Ki Murihiku, with hearings starting today (20 May).

Environment Southland chairman Nicol Horrell said he was very pleased with the number and quality of submissions, which reflected the significance of the proposals.

“These proposed changes would affect ratepayers across the region and the response from the community is giving the Council a lot to consider.”

The Council’s key proposal is for ongoing and greater investment in flood protection for Southland to improve community resilience through an increase in operating expenditure of $2.3m per annum to be funded by a new Flood Protection Infrastructure Rate. The new rate would be based on capital value for all ratepayers and would replace 140 targeted rates to pay for improved flood mitigation.

Prominent themes emerging from submissions are the affordability of the proposed flood protection investment during a cost of living crisis and rural downturn, whether changing to a capital value rating basis is fair across the board, and whether reserves could be used to fund more of the proposed work.

There was also feedback around whether enough time had been given for people to digest the proposals and respond, and whether the key proposals could be delayed by at least a year.

Support came through for increased flood protection in the region, but there were questions around how much and how fast work should happen.

Another theme was the need for Environment Southland to keep operating costs down.

Several submitters encouraged the Council to continue to support work programmes that helped lower emissions and enhance Southland’s biodiversity.

The Council adopted the draft consultation document on March 29 and submissions closed on 13 May, following a one week extension because of the amount of interest and feedback coming in.

The consultation also asked for feedback on the Council’s shareholding in South Port NZ Ltd, the proposed climate change strategy, targeted rabbit control rate, fees and charges schedule, infrastructure strategy, Significance and Engagement Policy and representation review.

Submissions are being heard Monday, Tuesday and Friday this week. A meeting to consider all of the submissions received and to deliberate on how to proceed will then take place, with the plan scheduled to be adopted in June.

ENDS

Link to hearing agenda and submissions: https://www.es.govt.nz/about-us/meetings?item=id:2q4ytr29r17q9s8p6e5c

The hearings will be livestreamed at: https://www.es.govt.nz/about-us/live-stream

For further comment, please contact Environment Southland communications team 0800 76 88 45.