Auckland Council has released the Long-Term Plan (Auckland's 10-year budget), and online consultation is open and ready for feedback until 22 March 2021.

COVID-19 left a $1 billion shortfall in Auckland Council's budget, hitting services and local board projects. Tough decisions are needed, and community feedback helps the local board understand what matters most to you.

The Rodney Local Board advocates to councillors, who then decide on funding. Their proposed priorities are safe and well-maintained roads, with Auckland Transport getting funding to renew and maintain 12 percent of the city's roading network yearly, and securing $121 million for AT's Unsealed Roads Improvement Programme.

Locally the board proposes that in the 2021-2022 financial year they:

• continue to deliver improvements to our village and town centres
• continue to improve water quality in our waterways
• improve our local biodiversity and natural environment by eradicating pests
• continue restoration work and mitigation of kauri dieback
• support the community, and community resource recovery and recycling centres to minimise waste, turn waste into resources, and to promote education on waste reduction
• progress the outcomes identified in the Green Road master plan
• progress renewals or construction of key community facilities including Wellsford toilets, Kumeū Library, Mahurangi Community Centre.

The budget for the next year is allocated to: 

Community services

Operating spend 2021/2022: $14.3 million

Capital spend 2021/2022: $5.4 million

Environmental services

Operating spend 2021/2022: $487,000

Planning services

$315,000

Governance

Operating spend 2021/2022:$1.1 million

Feedback on the 10-year budget is open until 22 March at akhaveyoursay.nz/recoverybudget where you can also comment on the council's regional priorities.

You can also have your say at the Rodney Local Board Point Wells Community Day this Sunday, 28 February, between 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. at Point Wells Reserve.

Regardless of whether you support the 10-year budget, community feedback is crucial, so if you please take the time to read, submit, and share as widely as possible