Tauranga Ratepayers’ Alliance calls on the unelected Commissioners at Tauranga City Council to defer the setting of the Long-Term Plan.

The Tauranga Ratepayers’ Alliance calls on the unelected Commissioners at Tauranga City Council to defer the setting of the Long-Term Plan.

The Long-Term Plan is a very important document setting out all the proposed activities and services provided by council together with how they will be funded over the next 10 years.

It is widely understood Tauranga City Council is rushing the process to ‘lock in’ contracts for ‘non-essential’ capital expenditure due to the possibility of a 2024 elected council changing the extravagant proposals of the commissioners and senior council employees. 

Polls indicate the majority of Tauranga Ratepayers believe many of the projects are not required and cannot be afforded by the community. Important core infrastructure needs such as an increase in the water supply are not being addressed. In regard to water, it is believed the commissioners are committing to the outgoing Labour Governments unpopular 3 Waters plan. 

Given the uncertainty of the incoming government’s proposals, a responsible council should delay any LTP decisions. Recently the Western Bay Of Plenty District Council “deferred adoption of its Long-term Plan due to a “lack of clear national direction” on core water and transportation services.”

Tauranga Ratepayers’ Alliance calls on Tauranga City Council to also take this prudent, responsible direction.