Clifton Community Board Plan 2020-2023

The Clifton Community Board are pleased to present the 2020-2023 Community Board Plan (the Plan).

Clifton is proud of its heritage, its unique coastal and rural lifestyle and the productive land which provides for the community on a local, national and international scale.

If our community is to grow, with both new people, new jobs and tourists at peak holiday periods, it is important that it is in a way that protects the rural and coastal character we all value. We must protect the quality of our natural environment whilst at the same time strive to provide high-quality local services for the community and tourists, and at an affordable rate.

The Plan was originally developed in 2017, and this is the subsequent review of that plan. Unfortunately, due to Covid-19 lockdown, two of the three planned and advertised community meetings were cancelled, and engagement could only be undertaken online via our survey.

We have taken note of comments and suggestions put forward through our meeting at Tongaporutu and our online survey. The community board identified four key focus areas that we believe are important to the Clifton community, and align with the New Plymouth District Council’s  eight key directions , being:

• Roading and public transport
• Residential, commercial and industrial growth
• Recreation and tourism
• Environment and Infrastructure

The review has allowed us to prioritise our aspirations and issues, and we have been provided with an opportunity to have some input into the Council’s Long-term Planning process at an early stage of the planning process. The success and achievement of many of the key focus areas will also depend on the involvement of the Clifton community.

This review has given the community board a vision to deliver over the coming years, and we look forward to further consultation and dialogue during our current term and beyond.

To contact your Clifton Community Board member or Ward Councillor click on the buttons below.

In March 2020, the community board began a series of planned community meetings beginning in Tongaporutu, but unfortunately had to abandon two of the three planned community meetings due to lockdown for the Covid-19 pandemic, which prevented the community board from meeting with residents in Urenui and Tikorangi. 

The feedback gathered from the people who offered their ideas and contributions via the survey and community conversations is reflected in this plan.

The online survey generated substantial information about the issues and aspirations for the community. Some of the issues and aspirations that were identified are beyond the scope of Council activity, thus a partnership with community and social service organisations, iwi and businesses will be required to further consider the action required in these areas (Advocacy). There are however a number of issues that the community board can take to the Council for their consideration, namely through their LTP submission and liaison with council staff.

Whilst the review of this Community Board Plan has been a relatively short process, the process has been positive and has sought to be an inclusive as possible given the time constraints and environment caused by Covid-19 lockdown.

The Clifton Community Board recognises that this Plan is a journey; this is a living document and a living process. 

There are a number of ways that community board initiatives can be funded:

• Through general rate funding. The Council decides on the share of general rate funding provided to projects identified by community boards. All decisions on investment in new facilities and major upgrades of facilities are made by Council.
• By leveraging involvement of other partners such as the private sector, community and other public sector agencies.

The community board members have prioritised the aspirational projects they will put forward for funding in the Long-term Plan, taking into account what the community has told us.  The prioritization is shown in this document and will be further supported by a submission to the Long-term Plan through the statutory consultation process to be held in March 2021.

In addition to the issues that have been highlighted in this plan, the community board are aware that their role extends far beyond advocating for infrastructure and service improvements. There is a community advocacy role for the community board to undertake. There are many issues where the Council may not have direct control, but because the community board have been elected to represent their community, there is an expectation that we will be a voice for the community. We are therefore committed to advocating for the wider issues to improve the social, economic, environmental and cultural well-being of our community.

In working towards the vision, aspirations and issues that have emerged from this process, the community board are looking forward to the next stage of the journey; a journey that will afford us opportunities to work in close partnership with our fellow community board members in Kaitake, Waitara and Inglewood, with iwi and hapū, with business and community organisations and groups across the board area and with the dedicated and committed individuals that call the Clifton community Board area their home. 

For full version of the Clifton Community Board Plan 2020-2023, click on the following button:

Click here to access Kaitake, Inglewood or Waitara Community Board Plans

Many of the comments received through the survey were issues that could have been dealt with via a service request direct to the New Plymouth District (for Council assets and issues) or Waka Kotahi NZTA (for State Highway issues).

For Council issues there are four ways to report an issue:

Via phone: 06 759 6060 (available 24/7)

Via email:  enquiries@npdc.govt.nz 

Via NPDC's website:  Report an Issue 

Via "New Plymouth in Your Pocket App" which you can download for free via one of the following buttons:

For Android:

For Iphones/Ipads:

To report an issue on a State Highway by calling 0800 4 highways (0800 44 44 49); or

Click on the button below to submit via the Waka Kotahi NZTA website.