The public's voice is now being sought on a new 10-year plan that will play a key role in shaping the Waikato region's future.

This week Waikato regional councillors unanimously adopted the 2015-2025 Long Term Plan Consultation Document setting out the council's proposals, rates implications and levels of service.

The Waikato Regional Council's 2015-2025 Long Term Plan has now been released for public submissions, which close Tuesday, April 14. Photo: File

Council chairperson Paula Southgate says over the next 10 years major changes will impact on Waikato's environment and lifestyle.

'Our plan looks at how we can tackle these challenges together,” says Paula. 'It's important to us that we continue providing good service and value, keeping costs down for ratepayers today and tomorrow.

'We're proposing to do a lot of really great work to improve water quality and protect our coastal and marine areas.”

Other key proposals up for public consideration includes the establishment of a regional development fund, plus declining TBfree New Zealand to collect a rate on its behalf for vector possum control work.

The regional council says the development fund would be used for projects that 'build and strengthen a vibrant regional economy”.

It is proposing money for the fund comes from a portion of council's investment fund returns, after subsidising rates and allowing for inflation-proofing.

In regards to declining TBfree New Zealand's request, while council believes in the organisation's work it believes there are alternative collection methods available to them.

It also feels that a targeted council rate was no longer 'the most appropriate mechanism”.

The plan also proposes an increase in the uniform annual general charge, meaning an increase in this flat rate for all properties in the region.

But the overall impact of this increase will vary depending on property value as the new proposed UAGC charge will pay for services previously funded by rates based on property value.

Paula says it is very important for people to have their say on the proposals.

'We've tried our best to make it easier for people to get involved in decisions on the region's future.

'In the past we've prepared a 200-plus page draft long term plan and summary but this year we've produced an easy to read 16 page document that will be delivered to households across the region.

'Councillors appreciate and value community feedback when making final decisions, so I strongly encourage people to tell us what they think of the various proposals,” says Paula.

Also under the proposed plan the council's works programme for 2015/16 will be delivered on a rates revenue of $80.1 million.

This means its rates revenue from existing ratepayers will up by just 0.2 per cent, but there will be no rates increase in 2016/17, with a rise of only 0.5 per cent in 2017/18.

Council says 'Across the region, it means 60 per cent of ratepayers will either have a rates decrease or an increase of just $10 per annum.”

Submissions on the plan can be made online, via email or letter. Submissions close Tuesday, April 14 at 4pm.

The consultation document and other supporting material will be available online from this Saturday, March 14, at: www.waikatoregion.govt.nz/ltp