Latest News Draft 10-Year Plan Submissions Reach 100 Some people want Masterton District Council to spend more to increase and improve services and others want Council to spend less, according to the 100 submissions received at closing time last Friday (May 22).  Mayor Garry Daniell said the ‘mixed bag’ of submissions is to be expected.  “Councils always have to balance the need for cost savings with the need to retain and improve services. Residents have a right to ask for more to be spent in their interest areas and less in other areas. Our job is to deliberate on the submissions and make decisions for the greater good of the whole community,” Mr Daniell said. Some of the submissions queried rates increases while others sought more funding for projects such as a new community centre, biodiversity projects, economic development and investment in sustainability.  “The quality of submissions showed many people had read those aspects of the Draft 10 Year-Plan pertaining to their interest area and had a good understanding of the subjects they were submitting on.”  Proposed Council projects which were endorsed through submissions included an all-weather athletics track, retention of the 24-hour toilet in Dixon Street, cycleways and recreation trail developments and Council’s willingness to advocate for high-speed Broadband.  Mr Daniell said the submission would be made public at the Council’s meeting later this week and Hearings would take place on June 3 and 4.  Decisions would then be made and the Draft Plan would be adopted soon after. 25 May 2009