Long Term Plan Pre-Engagement 2023

Consultation has concluded

CONSULTATION NOW CLOSED

We want to know what you think about some key issues before we create the draft Long Term Plan in early 2024. These issues include how we respond when weather events damage our infrastructure, whether Council should take an active role in housing, how we can cover our costs, and how you think we should fund a range of community projects.

Please read the information below and then lets us know your thoughts by filling out the survey below.

What is the Long Term Plan?

The Long Term Plan (LTP) sets out everything we intend to deliver for the Mackenzie community over the next ten years, and how we intend to fund it.

The plan outlines the services and activities that we will provide, the projects we will carry out and the level of service the community can expect.

The plan also includes how much we expect things to cost, how we’ll pay for them and what it all means for rates and debt.

An LTP looks a decade ahead, but is reviewed and consulted on every three years. An annual plan is prepared for the years in between.

How can I have my say?

The LTP affects every single person in our district and is developed through discussion with our residents and ratepayers, outlining a proposed work plan and how we propose to fund it.

Consultation is undertaken in line with the requirements of the Local Government Act 2002 and wider engagement on key topics aim to ensure everyone gets to know what's being considered, what the options are, and how they can have their say.

How does it all work?

Mackenzie District Council (MDC) gets its money from a range of sources – about 43% from rates, with the rest from fees and charges, subsidies, financial contributions, grants and property rentals, investments, property sales and debt funding.

How are your rates spent?

The level of rates set by the Council depends mainly on the services we have to provide, such as drinking water, wastewater and roads, and on what services and facilities the community wants.

If you own a property you pay rates directly to Council. Those who live in the district but don’t own property also pay rates indirectly through their rent. As such, the LTP is important to all residents, whether or not you own property, and we want to hear from anyone with an interest in the district.

In general, our running costs, such as paying staff, maintaining parks and reserves, and keeping the lights on are paid for through rates and fees and charges. The below infographic has been designed to help you understand how your rates are spent (Start at 12.00 and work round clockwise.)



As a district we are facing some significant challenges, including: climate change, rising cost of living, rates affordability, increasing demands from central government. We have one of the smallest ratepayer bases in the country - which means there are not many people to pay for the things we want to do.

It's important that you take the time to tell us what is important to you.

Next steps

We’re running this early phase of LTP engagement until 30 November. We’ll then use the feedback gathered to help make any tweaks and changes to our Long Term Plan discussion document, which we'll have available for feedback in 2024.

Following this, in May we’ll hold hearings and make decisions on the range of issues and suggestions raised as part of the LTP engagement process.

In June, Council will finalise the LTP and adopt it as the plan that shapes Council investment and expenditure over the next 10 years.

CONSULTATION NOW CLOSED

We want to know what you think about some key issues before we create the draft Long Term Plan in early 2024. These issues include how we respond when weather events damage our infrastructure, whether Council should take an active role in housing, how we can cover our costs, and how you think we should fund a range of community projects.

Please read the information below and then lets us know your thoughts by filling out the survey below.

What is the Long Term Plan?

The Long Term Plan (LTP) sets out everything we intend to deliver for the Mackenzie community over the next ten years, and how we intend to fund it.

The plan outlines the services and activities that we will provide, the projects we will carry out and the level of service the community can expect.

The plan also includes how much we expect things to cost, how we’ll pay for them and what it all means for rates and debt.

An LTP looks a decade ahead, but is reviewed and consulted on every three years. An annual plan is prepared for the years in between.

How can I have my say?

The LTP affects every single person in our district and is developed through discussion with our residents and ratepayers, outlining a proposed work plan and how we propose to fund it.

Consultation is undertaken in line with the requirements of the Local Government Act 2002 and wider engagement on key topics aim to ensure everyone gets to know what's being considered, what the options are, and how they can have their say.

How does it all work?

Mackenzie District Council (MDC) gets its money from a range of sources – about 43% from rates, with the rest from fees and charges, subsidies, financial contributions, grants and property rentals, investments, property sales and debt funding.

How are your rates spent?

The level of rates set by the Council depends mainly on the services we have to provide, such as drinking water, wastewater and roads, and on what services and facilities the community wants.

If you own a property you pay rates directly to Council. Those who live in the district but don’t own property also pay rates indirectly through their rent. As such, the LTP is important to all residents, whether or not you own property, and we want to hear from anyone with an interest in the district.

In general, our running costs, such as paying staff, maintaining parks and reserves, and keeping the lights on are paid for through rates and fees and charges. The below infographic has been designed to help you understand how your rates are spent (Start at 12.00 and work round clockwise.)



As a district we are facing some significant challenges, including: climate change, rising cost of living, rates affordability, increasing demands from central government. We have one of the smallest ratepayer bases in the country - which means there are not many people to pay for the things we want to do.

It's important that you take the time to tell us what is important to you.

Next steps

We’re running this early phase of LTP engagement until 30 November. We’ll then use the feedback gathered to help make any tweaks and changes to our Long Term Plan discussion document, which we'll have available for feedback in 2024.

Following this, in May we’ll hold hearings and make decisions on the range of issues and suggestions raised as part of the LTP engagement process.

In June, Council will finalise the LTP and adopt it as the plan that shapes Council investment and expenditure over the next 10 years.