​CODC prepares shortlist for draft LTP consultation document

A short-list of items has been selected for inclusion in the Central Otago District Council’s draft 2025-34 Long-term Plan document.

At the meeting on Wednesday (18 December 2024) held at Cromwell as a change of venue from Alexandra, the Council discussed what it proposed to consult on as part of the upcoming Long-term Plan (LTP).

The draft consultation document includes these items:

• Vesting the Ida MacDonald Roxburgh Pool - Punawai Ora into Council (and running the pool at a district-wide cost of $250,000 per annum).
• Providing a $200,000 grant for the redevelopment of the sports turf in the Māniatoto (at an average one-off cost of $13.60 per ratepayer);
• also providing a $300,000 grant towards the redevelopment of the turf at Dunstan High School (at an average cost of $20.40 per ratepayer).
• Closing the Alexandra outdoor pool (for an annual saving of $250,000).
• Supporting the Manuherekia Valleys Community Hub to cover a shortfall of up to $1.6 million to complete the Omakau project.
• Transferring water services into an independent entity (council-controlled organisation) as the preferred option.
• Increasing the volumetric water rates charges (with an increase to $2.40 per cubic metre being the preferred option).
• Divesting some community facilities (for more information go to: LEVEL OF SERVICE - COMMUNITY BUILDINGS IN CENTRAL OTAGO).
• Granting $250,000 to a Supercars motorsport event in 2026 (funded via the promotions and events targeted rate).

The Council declined requests to include the following items in the draft LTP document:

• A request for a district grant of $250,000 for the Cromwell Sports Club was declined noting that a Cromwell Racecourse Recreation Plan is underway that may impact this project.
• A request for a potential ward grant of up to $500,000 for the Cromwell Early Learning Centre was also declined, because it was not considered a priority at this time.

The items short-listed for the draft LTP document will be finalised for approval at the Council’s next meeting on 29 January 2025 and consulted on with the community in March.

For more information on the LTP Consultation go to: What's important Central Otago: 2025-34 Long-term Plan | Let’s Talk Central Otago.