​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.