Long Term Plan 2021-2041 Amendment & Annual Plan 2023/24

Published on March 31, 2023

We have some major decisions ahead that need your input.  Council is amending the Long Term Plan 2021-2041 and preparing the Annual Plan 2023/2024.

The Long Term Plan (LTP) sets out the services and projects the Council will provide to the Horowhenua community all the way out to 2041.

This year we propose making some changes to rates affordability, the future of the Levin Landfill and water projects through the LTP Amendment (LTPA).  

The formal consultation period began on 27 March and runs until 4pm on 1 May 2023. During this period, we encourage you to have your say by making a submission, but first, you can learn more about the LTP Amendment below.

Rates affordability

Council promised to do a Rates Review after the Annual Plan 2022/2023 to consider how rates and costs are shared across our district.

Many members of our community on low incomes are spending some of the highest proportions of their incomes on rent and mortgages in
New Zealand. Now inflation, interest rates rises and price increases have added to the pressure.

Some households are paying 8-9% of their income on rates, while others pay just 1-2%. There are different reasons for this, and we can influence one of them – how Council’s rating policy is set. 

View Issue 1: Rates Review for a fairer distribution of rates

Levin Landfill – considering options for its future 

Council promised our community that we would decide on the future of the Levin Landfill this year, and when we consulted with you, we should have given options other than closing the landfill. We’re doing that now. 

Everyone put a lot of effort into those earlier submissions, so if your feedback hasn’t changed, you’re welcome to send us the same material.

View Issue 2: What should the Future of the Levin Landfill be?

Upgrading our water programme

We need to bring some of our infrastructure investments forward to increase our drinking water supply and improve our wastewater and stormwater management. The district is growing fast, and frequent, severe rain events have pushed our stormwater system to and past capacity.

This will be expensive. But, work needs to begin now to build capacity and resilience in our water services so we can continue to deliver these core services to our community.

This work comes at a time when we know households are facing economic pressures across the board. While investment in our key water services is critical, we also need to hear from you about how the costs could be shared across the district.

View Issue 3: Our key water infrastructure

How you can have your say

Me pēhea rā te tangata e whai wāhi ai ki te kōrero

We want to hear from you about:

• Rates Review 
• Future of the Levin Landfill
• Key Water Projects

It’s easy to share your thoughts with us:

Need help?

Don’t know where to start with creating your submission or have questions on the process?

Contact us:

• Drop in to the Council's Main Office, 126 Oxford St, Levin
• ltp@horowhenua.govt.nz
• Call 06 366 0999