Environment Canterbury is reminding ratepayers that the deadline for submissions on the draft Long Term Council Community Plan is 5 pm, Tuesday April 28.

The regional council had received 209 submissions from throughout Canterbury. As in previous years, it is expected that there will be an influx of submissions at the last minute.

Environment Canterbury has asked the public for feedback on a series of funding policy changes. Submissions so far have focused upon the proposed water management cost recovery charges for consent-holders, a Uniform Annual General Charge, eligibility for the Christchurch Clean Heat project and resource consent charges. The overall rates rise (general, proposed uniform charge and targeted rates) is 2.7 per cent including a 3 per cent adjustment for inflation for 2009/10.

Submitters are also being asked to comment on other proposed work programmes including:
• increased flood protection from the Waimakariri River, requiring a targeted rate from most of Christchurch and some Selwyn District and Kaiapoi ratepayers from 2010/11,
• establishing a regional park in the Lower Ashley River/Rakahuri from the confluence at the Okuku River to the estuary,
• increased usage of Metro bus services, with the aim of a five per cent increase annually, in Greater Christchurch,
• Lyttelton and Diamond Harbour to join the Christchurch rating area for public transport, and the expansion of the Metro rating area to include Purau, Church Bay and Charteris Bay,
• a proposal to fund Metro services to some Selwyn District towns through a 90 per cent urban, 10 per cent rural rating split, based on new urban and rural boundaries, and,
• Lake Tekapo Regional Park funding proposal - a mix of 60 per cent general rate and 40 per cent fixed targeted rate (about 72 cents per rateable property) for Mackenzie and Timaru District ratepayers.

A copy of the draft plan is available on the council website (www.ecan.govt.nz/ltccp) or from Customer Services – 0800 32 4636, Christchurch (03) 353 9007.