There has been a big turnout in Tairua and Whangamata to take part in making strategic plans for the townships.

More than 600 people who live, work and play in Tairua and Whangamata completed questionnaires to help shape plans for their individual communities.

The Tairua and Whangamata community boards says a recent questionnaire completed by locals living in either town will help the boards develop detailed and specific plans for their individual areas. Image: File

The responses to the questionnaires will help both community boards develop detailed and specific plans to help influence Thames-Coromandel District Council budgets and priorities.

The plans will not be restricted to what council and the community boards can do, but will bring in other organisations and volunteer groups that can take on projects.

Since the submission period closed on April 23, council staff have been poring over the responses.

Whangamata Programme Manager Ross Ashby says they now need to look through them carefully because they will help shape the plans.

'We will be getting in touch with all the people who indicated they want to participate more in putting the plans together,” says Ross. 'We'll also be publishing a summary of the results of the questionnaire consultation, around June.

'We'll use the results of the submissions to help formalise key projects and actions and identify what groups or agencies will move them forward.

Whangamata Community Board chairperson Keith Johnston would like to thank all those who took the time to submit their input.

'Feedback from the community is the most important way we can ensure we are focusing on the issues that really matter to the people of our area.”

Tairua-Pauanui Community Board chairperson Bob Renton adds: 'The feedback that has come in so far has represented an impressive cross-section of our population which really makes the consultation process even more valuable.”

For those who missed out on the consultations but want to get involved, it's not too late as further workshops and discussions will take place.

For more information visit the Thames-Coromandel District Council website at: www.tcdc.govt.nz