Long-Term Plan 2025-2034

Buller District Council’s plan for the next nine years is called the Long-Term Plan (LTP), covering the years 2025–2034. It is Council’s guiding document, and it has an impact on everyone who lives in our district.

The LTP outlines Council's goals, what Council aims to do, and how we plan to pay for what we will deliver to our community. It also identifies the significant big-picture drivers behind our actions, which are captured in our vision, and the Community Outcomes. It gives the reasons behind what we do, includes the actions we commit to, tells you how much that will cost and how we plan to pay for it.

Have you ever wondered why Council invested in that water pipe? This document explains why, how much we intend to spend on it and when that pipe should go into the ground.

We revisit this document every three years and set the course for the following decade. The community was invited to provide feedback on any part of the Draft Long-Term Plan 2025-2034 during the consultation period between 25 April and 26 May 2025.

Council received 336 submissions on the Draft LTP 2025-2034 and 38 funding requests from a variety of community groups for one-off or annual funding. 60 people have chosen to speak to their submissions during the two days of hearings. 22 will speak in support of their funding requests, with the balance speaking to their individual LTP submissions.

Council has published the funding requests, individual submissions and a consultation report analysing the submissions on this page.

We’d like to thank everyone who took the time to provide feedback during this consultation. Councillors will review the submissions and hear from submitters to understand people’s concerns, suggestions, and feedback during the hearings and deliberations.

Buller District Council’s plan for the next nine years is called the Long-Term Plan (LTP), covering the years 2025–2034. It is Council’s guiding document, and it has an impact on everyone who lives in our district.

The LTP outlines Council's goals, what Council aims to do, and how we plan to pay for what we will deliver to our community. It also identifies the significant big-picture drivers behind our actions, which are captured in our vision, and the Community Outcomes. It gives the reasons behind what we do, includes the actions we commit to, tells you how much that will cost and how we plan to pay for it.

Have you ever wondered why Council invested in that water pipe? This document explains why, how much we intend to spend on it and when that pipe should go into the ground.

We revisit this document every three years and set the course for the following decade. The community was invited to provide feedback on any part of the Draft Long-Term Plan 2025-2034 during the consultation period between 25 April and 26 May 2025.

Council received 336 submissions on the Draft LTP 2025-2034 and 38 funding requests from a variety of community groups for one-off or annual funding. 60 people have chosen to speak to their submissions during the two days of hearings. 22 will speak in support of their funding requests, with the balance speaking to their individual LTP submissions.

Council has published the funding requests, individual submissions and a consultation report analysing the submissions on this page.

We’d like to thank everyone who took the time to provide feedback during this consultation. Councillors will review the submissions and hear from submitters to understand people’s concerns, suggestions, and feedback during the hearings and deliberations.

  • Outcomes from deliberations: Draft Long-Term Plan 2025-2034

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    Buller District Council has successfully concluded its deliberations on the 2025-2034 Draft Long-Term Plan.

    The draft plan documents were adopted at an Extraordinary Council Meeting on 23 April 2025 and made available for public review.

    Following an extensive consultation period from 25 April to 26 May 2024, the community was invited to present their feedback in person during public hearings held between 9-10 June.

    This extensive engagement process ensured that the council received a wide range of perspectives and insights from members of the community.

    In response to the feedback received, council has made several key decisions:

    Read more in our Media Release.

  • Draft Long-Term Plan submissions to be considered next week

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    Buller District Council will come together next week to consider 336 submissions on the Draft Long-Term Plan (LTP) 2025-2034. Council will also take into account 38 funding requests made by a variety of community groups for one-off or annual funding.

    60 people have chosen to speak to their submissions during the two days of hearings scheduled for next week.

    Read more in our Media Release.

  • Stormwater and wastewater cross-connections in Carters Beach and Westport

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    Find out more about the stormwater and wastewater systems in Carters Beach and Westport and the issue of private cross-connections.

    Read more in our Media Release

  • Council launches Draft Long-Term Plan 2025-2034 consultation

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    Buller District Council is asking the community for feedback on its Draft Long-Term Plan 2025-2034 (LTP) between Friday, 25 April 2025, and 4:30 pm Monday, 26 May 2025.

    Chief Executive Officer Simon Pickford emphasises council’s commitment to prudent financial planning. He states: “Developing a no-frills budget that enables council to deliver the same level of existing services was the primary focus when developing the financial framework for the next nine years."

    Read more in our Media Release.

  • Community to have their say on Westport’s wastewater and stormwater separation

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    Buller District Council will consult with the community about the options for separating Westport’s stormwater and wastewater as part of the Draft Long-Term Plan 2025-2034 consultation.

    Read more in our Media Release.

  • Council changes Long-Term Plan consultation timeline

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    Today, Buller District Council confirmed changing the consultation period for its Draft Long-Term Plan (LTP) 2025-2034. Council had initially planned to seek the community's feedback on its next nine-year plan between 18 April 2025 and 19 May 2025. However, due to high workloads for staff and auditors, Council has decided to slightly delay the consultation period, opening it a week later on 25 April 2025.

    Read more in our Media Release.

  • Buller District Council floats draft total rates increase for 2025-26

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    Council staff have been able to further reduce the total rates percentage increase quoted at the 22 January Long-Term Plan (LTP) budget workshop from 9.8% to 7.39% for 2025-26, while retaining the existing levels of service delivery.

    Read more in our Media Release.

  • Buller District Council progresses lean Long-Term Plan budget

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    Buller District Council held its regular Long-Term Plan (LTP) workshop at the Clocktower Chambers yesterday, as it continues to work towards developing a no-frills budget for 2025-2034.

    Read more in our Media Release.

  • Continuation of council’s grants funding under review

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    The future direction of council-funded community grants was on the table at this week’s council meeting, with councillors reviewing and considering grants funding. A decision was made to retain the current level of grants funding available in the 2021-31 Long-Term Plan (LTP).

    Read more in our Media Release.

  • Council’s 2025-34 Long-Term Plan workshops underway

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    Buller District Council’s workshop programme for 2025 is in full swing, with the council meeting last Wednesday, 12 February for a public workshop to discuss the levels of service and fees and charges that will be set for the 2025-34 draft Long-Term Plan (LTP).

    Read more in our Media Release.