Ratepayers were mailed, for the first time, a magazine-style consultation document called Your Community Your Council Your future 2015-2025.
Traditionally, public engagement in the long-term plan process had been low, and for the first time for a long-term plan he would be standing on his ''soapbox'' in each of the district's 10 townships, starting this weekend, the mayor said.
''I have no lack of consultation a year down the track ... but people just don't quite appreciate the process, to how it will correlate to your [rates] bill in a year's time, and it's now that they have to have their say.'' Mr Cadogan said.
''Everyone has a real logical argument in the pub a year later. Now is the time: once it's implemented, once the rates bill goes out, you can't wind the process back.''
The mayor's soapbox tour of the district begins in Clinton, Tapanui and Lawrence today, then moves to Waihola and Milton tomorrow.
Next weekend he will visit Balclutha, Stirling and Kaitangata on Saturday (April 18) and Kaka Point and Owaka on Sunday (April 19).
Mr Cadogan said, in his political career he had never seen ''so many directional changes'' in a council plan.
Whether ratepayers' urban water, sewerage and stormwater charges depended on the community they lived in; whether the council should reduce spending on roads across the district and target investment at roads with the biggest economic impact; and whether the council should aim to increase the rating base to address rates affordability were all up for discussion, he said.
The council would also consult on the proposed economic development strategy; revenue and financing policy; policy on the remission of rates; policy on the remission and postponement of rates on Maori freehold land; policy on financial contributions; and the proposed schedule of fees and charges for 2015-16.
Public submissions on the plan close on Thursday, May 7.
