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Fit for the Future - Waitaki's 2025-2034 Long Term Plan

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Submissions on our 2025-34 Long Term Plan have now closed. Thanks to everyone who sent in your feedback. Council officers will be collating all the submissions and sharing with Elected Members for consideration ahead of Council Hearings on 17 & 18 March.


What's this all about?

Our Long Term Plan is our BIG budget and programme of work for the next nine years.

We've used the theme 'Fit for the Future' to talk about the stamina, endurance and resilience we need to build to get us through some of the toughest financial challenges we’ve ever faced. Council has been squeezed by price rises in the things we must deliver, by the same cost of living crisis that’s squeezed household budgets. And there are things we just can’t put off until tomorrow in the hope that the future will get easier. This is a marathon, not a sprint.

We’ve worked hard on constraining budgets and stripping back programmes of work, but we’re still looking at an average rates rise of 10.3% in 2025/26.

Public Consultation on the 2025-34 Waitaki District Long Term Plan was open from Tuesday 4 February to Tuesday 4 March 2025.



Read the Consultation Document


We want to make sure that you have all the details you need to make informed decisions on what you think the best way forward is for Waitaki.

Our Consultation Document is a comprehensive summary of the key topics and projects we need to fund in our draft 2025-34 Long Term Plan.

Read the Consultation Document

This document looks at where we are now, the challenges we know we’ll face over the next decade, how we plan to tackle them, and the decisions we need your help with.

We've tried to keep it simple - but these are complex topics!

For busy people who just want the basics, we've put together a summary of key topics. Want to know more? We have supporting documents and longer articles. Can't find the answers you need? Come along to a Community Q&A or pop your query into our 'Questions' tool below.




Why should you care?

The choices we make now will affect the things we’re able to provide in the future. And how much you’ll pay.

Some of the big decisions we need your help with are...

1. Do we set up a new company to deliver water services?

2. Do we meter water across Waitaki to save water and extend the life of our infrastructure?

3. Do we repurpose Tourism Waitaki and let the Penguin Colony stand on its own feet?

4. How should we plan to protect our assets in a changing climate and what's the future of Beach Road?

5. What could we do to reduce rates rises? Do we sell some Council property?

Plus we’re also asking: Do we really need all of our Community Halls? What’s Council’s role in social housing? What about Airbnbs? What do you think of the projects we have planned? What about changes to fees and charges?



Want more information?

  • Go to our deep dive section below to find longer articles on our consultation topics.
  • Find heaps of supporting documents and FAQs on this page.


Want less information?

Click on the arrows to read bite-sized summaries of the key topics.





Submissions on our 2025-34 Long Term Plan have now closed. Thanks to everyone who sent in your feedback. Council officers will be collating all the submissions and sharing with Elected Members for consideration ahead of Council Hearings on 17 & 18 March.


What's this all about?

Our Long Term Plan is our BIG budget and programme of work for the next nine years.

We've used the theme 'Fit for the Future' to talk about the stamina, endurance and resilience we need to build to get us through some of the toughest financial challenges we’ve ever faced. Council has been squeezed by price rises in the things we must deliver, by the same cost of living crisis that’s squeezed household budgets. And there are things we just can’t put off until tomorrow in the hope that the future will get easier. This is a marathon, not a sprint.

We’ve worked hard on constraining budgets and stripping back programmes of work, but we’re still looking at an average rates rise of 10.3% in 2025/26.

Public Consultation on the 2025-34 Waitaki District Long Term Plan was open from Tuesday 4 February to Tuesday 4 March 2025.



Read the Consultation Document


We want to make sure that you have all the details you need to make informed decisions on what you think the best way forward is for Waitaki.

Our Consultation Document is a comprehensive summary of the key topics and projects we need to fund in our draft 2025-34 Long Term Plan.

Read the Consultation Document

This document looks at where we are now, the challenges we know we’ll face over the next decade, how we plan to tackle them, and the decisions we need your help with.

We've tried to keep it simple - but these are complex topics!

For busy people who just want the basics, we've put together a summary of key topics. Want to know more? We have supporting documents and longer articles. Can't find the answers you need? Come along to a Community Q&A or pop your query into our 'Questions' tool below.




Why should you care?

The choices we make now will affect the things we’re able to provide in the future. And how much you’ll pay.

Some of the big decisions we need your help with are...

1. Do we set up a new company to deliver water services?

2. Do we meter water across Waitaki to save water and extend the life of our infrastructure?

3. Do we repurpose Tourism Waitaki and let the Penguin Colony stand on its own feet?

4. How should we plan to protect our assets in a changing climate and what's the future of Beach Road?

5. What could we do to reduce rates rises? Do we sell some Council property?

Plus we’re also asking: Do we really need all of our Community Halls? What’s Council’s role in social housing? What about Airbnbs? What do you think of the projects we have planned? What about changes to fees and charges?



Want more information?

  • Go to our deep dive section below to find longer articles on our consultation topics.
  • Find heaps of supporting documents and FAQs on this page.


Want less information?

Click on the arrows to read bite-sized summaries of the key topics.





CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.

Pop your questions about the Long Term Plan 2025-34 here. We'll get back to you with an answer within 2-3 working days.

  • Share In terms of setting up a new company to look after water, are you talking about a new council owned company along the lines of the council owned Whitestone Contracting whose profits come back to council or are you talking about selling the water network off to a private company and having them run it altogether? Regards Rob on Facebook Share In terms of setting up a new company to look after water, are you talking about a new council owned company along the lines of the council owned Whitestone Contracting whose profits come back to council or are you talking about selling the water network off to a private company and having them run it altogether? Regards Rob on Twitter Share In terms of setting up a new company to look after water, are you talking about a new council owned company along the lines of the council owned Whitestone Contracting whose profits come back to council or are you talking about selling the water network off to a private company and having them run it altogether? Regards Rob on Linkedin Email In terms of setting up a new company to look after water, are you talking about a new council owned company along the lines of the council owned Whitestone Contracting whose profits come back to council or are you talking about selling the water network off to a private company and having them run it altogether? Regards Rob link

    In terms of setting up a new company to look after water, are you talking about a new council owned company along the lines of the council owned Whitestone Contracting whose profits come back to council or are you talking about selling the water network off to a private company and having them run it altogether? Regards Rob

    Rob asked about 2 months ago

    Hi Rob. The proposed idea for the CCO is part of the Governments Local Water Done Well policies, which would see Council put assets into a CCO either standalone or with other Councils. The revenue from waters would then be used to invest in water infrastructure, and also the CCO could borrow to invest. No decisions have been made and Council is working on meeting the requirements set by Government to create a Water Services Delivery Plan by September 2025. Privatisation isn't one of the options we're considering.

  • Share With regards Short Term Rentals, are you talking about whole poperties being rented out, for example a 2, 3 or 4 bedroom house in it's entirety only OR are you looking to include mum and dad who may be retired and rent out a spce in their family home? on Facebook Share With regards Short Term Rentals, are you talking about whole poperties being rented out, for example a 2, 3 or 4 bedroom house in it's entirety only OR are you looking to include mum and dad who may be retired and rent out a spce in their family home? on Twitter Share With regards Short Term Rentals, are you talking about whole poperties being rented out, for example a 2, 3 or 4 bedroom house in it's entirety only OR are you looking to include mum and dad who may be retired and rent out a spce in their family home? on Linkedin Email With regards Short Term Rentals, are you talking about whole poperties being rented out, for example a 2, 3 or 4 bedroom house in it's entirety only OR are you looking to include mum and dad who may be retired and rent out a spce in their family home? link

    With regards Short Term Rentals, are you talking about whole poperties being rented out, for example a 2, 3 or 4 bedroom house in it's entirety only OR are you looking to include mum and dad who may be retired and rent out a spce in their family home?

    Rob asked about 2 months ago

    Hi Rob, this is still in the early phases which is why we're asking. It's likely to cover those listing whole properties for rental, rather than letting rooms - but there's a long way to go on this.

  • Share your answer is not what i was asking. i was asking about the turn of to Gardners road that was done last year. and the hill that fell away not far from old bones lodge that was fixed last year at great cost. plus just before that you resurfaced the road from just past old bones up to where you did the big dig out. please answer this question as this money you have spent is now a waste of rate payers money when the digging should have been done first then all the other work would have not needed to be spent. please answer these question as they will not go away on Facebook Share your answer is not what i was asking. i was asking about the turn of to Gardners road that was done last year. and the hill that fell away not far from old bones lodge that was fixed last year at great cost. plus just before that you resurfaced the road from just past old bones up to where you did the big dig out. please answer this question as this money you have spent is now a waste of rate payers money when the digging should have been done first then all the other work would have not needed to be spent. please answer these question as they will not go away on Twitter Share your answer is not what i was asking. i was asking about the turn of to Gardners road that was done last year. and the hill that fell away not far from old bones lodge that was fixed last year at great cost. plus just before that you resurfaced the road from just past old bones up to where you did the big dig out. please answer this question as this money you have spent is now a waste of rate payers money when the digging should have been done first then all the other work would have not needed to be spent. please answer these question as they will not go away on Linkedin Email your answer is not what i was asking. i was asking about the turn of to Gardners road that was done last year. and the hill that fell away not far from old bones lodge that was fixed last year at great cost. plus just before that you resurfaced the road from just past old bones up to where you did the big dig out. please answer this question as this money you have spent is now a waste of rate payers money when the digging should have been done first then all the other work would have not needed to be spent. please answer these question as they will not go away link

    your answer is not what i was asking. i was asking about the turn of to Gardners road that was done last year. and the hill that fell away not far from old bones lodge that was fixed last year at great cost. plus just before that you resurfaced the road from just past old bones up to where you did the big dig out. please answer this question as this money you have spent is now a waste of rate payers money when the digging should have been done first then all the other work would have not needed to be spent. please answer these question as they will not go away

    grant asked 2 months ago

    We conduct maintenance on all of our roads to a schedule each year, and Gardiners Road is still open and being used. Project Reclaim did not anticipate the road being cut by Awamoa Road, but this occurred due to more waste being discovered at the site than core testing indicated. The road is currently temporarily closed, pending public consultation which is part of this Long Term Plan. Project Reclaim was ongoing last year, and other works took place before it began on Beach Road. Thanks.

  • Share why was beach road resurfaced. then the bypass put in on thousand acres and beach road. then the bank rebuilt. all at a great cost then last you dig out the old dump and carry on digging under the road that some say was not needed all at a great cost the digging should have been done first you knowhow busy that road was as you had readers counting the traffic flow for about a year. that road is a scenic drive as is the road to Kaikoura is .this road is the main road to Oamaru beach and you are public servants payed to do the best for Oamaru as a hole not just a few bikers , PUT THE ROAD BACK . or are you trying to kill that road as you do not want to fix the bridge on Facebook Share why was beach road resurfaced. then the bypass put in on thousand acres and beach road. then the bank rebuilt. all at a great cost then last you dig out the old dump and carry on digging under the road that some say was not needed all at a great cost the digging should have been done first you knowhow busy that road was as you had readers counting the traffic flow for about a year. that road is a scenic drive as is the road to Kaikoura is .this road is the main road to Oamaru beach and you are public servants payed to do the best for Oamaru as a hole not just a few bikers , PUT THE ROAD BACK . or are you trying to kill that road as you do not want to fix the bridge on Twitter Share why was beach road resurfaced. then the bypass put in on thousand acres and beach road. then the bank rebuilt. all at a great cost then last you dig out the old dump and carry on digging under the road that some say was not needed all at a great cost the digging should have been done first you knowhow busy that road was as you had readers counting the traffic flow for about a year. that road is a scenic drive as is the road to Kaikoura is .this road is the main road to Oamaru beach and you are public servants payed to do the best for Oamaru as a hole not just a few bikers , PUT THE ROAD BACK . or are you trying to kill that road as you do not want to fix the bridge on Linkedin Email why was beach road resurfaced. then the bypass put in on thousand acres and beach road. then the bank rebuilt. all at a great cost then last you dig out the old dump and carry on digging under the road that some say was not needed all at a great cost the digging should have been done first you knowhow busy that road was as you had readers counting the traffic flow for about a year. that road is a scenic drive as is the road to Kaikoura is .this road is the main road to Oamaru beach and you are public servants payed to do the best for Oamaru as a hole not just a few bikers , PUT THE ROAD BACK . or are you trying to kill that road as you do not want to fix the bridge link

    why was beach road resurfaced. then the bypass put in on thousand acres and beach road. then the bank rebuilt. all at a great cost then last you dig out the old dump and carry on digging under the road that some say was not needed all at a great cost the digging should have been done first you knowhow busy that road was as you had readers counting the traffic flow for about a year. that road is a scenic drive as is the road to Kaikoura is .this road is the main road to Oamaru beach and you are public servants payed to do the best for Oamaru as a hole not just a few bikers , PUT THE ROAD BACK . or are you trying to kill that road as you do not want to fix the bridge

    grant asked 2 months ago

    Good morning! The bypass along Gardiners Road to Thousand Acre was put in over 15 years ago, at a time when erosion along Beach Road was not as significant. The incident on the West Coast in 2019 where a landfill was pulled out onto the beach and sea meant Council began Project Reclaim as a way to avoid this happening here. We appreciate your feedback, and would like you to make it as a formal submission by completing the survey which is also on the Let's Talk Page. The Kakanui Bridge replacement is one of the big projects of this Long Term Plan, and Council intends to deliver it.

  • Share Hi, The Long Term Plan consultation document says that the cost per year of social housing is $20 per "ratepayer". Is that $20 per property/rates notice? Or as an indivdual home owner can I assume it's costing me relatively more? Regards, Keri on Facebook Share Hi, The Long Term Plan consultation document says that the cost per year of social housing is $20 per "ratepayer". Is that $20 per property/rates notice? Or as an indivdual home owner can I assume it's costing me relatively more? Regards, Keri on Twitter Share Hi, The Long Term Plan consultation document says that the cost per year of social housing is $20 per "ratepayer". Is that $20 per property/rates notice? Or as an indivdual home owner can I assume it's costing me relatively more? Regards, Keri on Linkedin Email Hi, The Long Term Plan consultation document says that the cost per year of social housing is $20 per "ratepayer". Is that $20 per property/rates notice? Or as an indivdual home owner can I assume it's costing me relatively more? Regards, Keri link

    Hi, The Long Term Plan consultation document says that the cost per year of social housing is $20 per "ratepayer". Is that $20 per property/rates notice? Or as an indivdual home owner can I assume it's costing me relatively more? Regards, Keri

    keris asked 2 months ago

    Hello Keri! It's $20 per rateable unit. So $20 of each annual rates invoice goes towards social housing. 

    rates,community housing,social housing
    rates community housing social housing
Page last updated: 05 Mar 2025, 06:32 AM