'Future Ruapehu 2010' project launched with questionnaire

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 15, Issue 694, 8 July 1997, Page 13

'Future Ruapehu 2010' project launched with questionnaire

This week marks the beginning of a community consultation process for 'Future Ruapehu 2010', a project being run by the Ruapehu District Council. The project is being conducted in two stages: a questionnaire is being posted out to over 1000 ratepayers this week; and a series of focus group workshops which will be run between September and November. The questionnaire consists of a series of 'tick the box' type questions. The Future Ruapehu 2010 team are hoping to get up to a 50 per cent response rate. "We are skilled planners but we're not mind readers. Unless the public tell us what they want for their community, we can't plan for their needs," said Bridget Duley, the group 's strategic planner. The project is seeking to outline a strategic pathway for the district over the next 10 to 20 years. A crucial part of this process involves getting the public to express their views and aspirations for their com-

munity. The Future Ruapehu 2010 team are seeking to involve the community in outlining the visions or goals of the district and the planning within the council required to achieve the goals. This process is the result of the recent Local Government Amendment Act (No 3) which requires Councils to be more transparent with respect to their business and to be more strategic in their planning. The process is similar to what any other business would undertake when making decisions. "Unlike other businesses the Council has the public's interests in mind which is why the consultation phase is so important," said Miss Duley. The members of the Future Ruapehu 2010 team include Bridget Duley, lan Herbert, Mark Lester and Doug Cassey. These people can be contacted at the Ruapehu District Council if anyone has any questions about the project or wants to get involved.