Council to amend the draft Annual Plan

Media Release - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Elected members met on Wednesday 7 June to hear, deliberate and decide on the submissions received during the public consultation on the Annual Plan 2023/2024. While it was a long day of discussion, Council is satisfied that the final plan will be beneficial to the community. Final amendments are being made to the plan to determine the overall average rate increase. Council agreed that three waters depreciation will not be funded and the overall average rate increase is likely to be close to the 0.07%  proposed in the draft Annual Plan. The main driver of the changes that people will see in their rates is from the increase in the general rates, which is used to fund most Council activities. This plan will be adopted by Council at an extraordinary meeting on 30 June 2023.”

“We so appreciate that people have taken time to consider the Consultation Document and draft Annual Plan and make a submission to Council,” says Mayor Helen Lash. “This year there have been some very hard decisions that we as elected members considered to make any rate increases fair for as many ratepayers as possible. This Council is doing its best to make decisions that improve the long-term financial prospects for Council and avoid large rate increases in the future.”

“The submissions received were well-thought through and assisted us to understand the issues facing community members. We value being able to hear directly from the 13 submitters who came and provided a verbal submission in support of their own and others’ written submissions. With the opportunity to clarify submissions, we gained a greater understanding of the issues and consequences of some of the proposals that were, or in some cases not, included in the draft Annual Plan.”

At the conclusion of the Annual Plan Hearing the following decisions were made:

• Council adopted the preferred rates model of: 20% UAGC with Rural differential reduced from 1 to 0.95, and Rural Residential differential reduced from 0.75 to 0.7.
• Council agreed to build a permanent public toilet block at Otira and fund ongoing caretaking, cleaning, and maintenance.
• Maintain the 2022/2023 Fees and Charges for the Carnegie Gallery, Hokitika Museum, and Venue Hire rates, and review charges during the Long-Term Plan process.
• Support the one-off funding of $80k that has been allocated to the Heritage Park to resolve sewage to main system and other deficiencies on site.
• Installation of the Tourism Infrastructure signage to proceed providing the Tourism Infrastructure Fund application is successful.
• A Business Case for the seal extensions for Gillam’s Gully Road and Cement Lead Road to be developed, with a view to them being included as projects in the National Land Transport Programme for the 2025 year.
• Lazar Park
  • Council supports the request for $20,000 plus GST funding for fencing at Lazar Park.
  • The request for funding of $5000 plus GST for a Drinking Fountain is not approved.
  • Resolved that the maintenance grant be increased to $11,341.87 (incl. GST) from $2,500 to include the cost of maintaining the toilets for public use.
• Grant Funding
  • Request for a grant of $10,000 plus GST from the Lion’s Club for the Matariki Festival be declined.
  • The Annual Grant to the Hokitika Regent Theatre be continued and to include inflation adjustment.
• Hari Hari Civil Defence for generator security cage and wiring ($50,000 incl. GST) was agreed in principle subject to several quotes being obtained, the Community can apply for funds from Hari Hari Complex Reserve Fund.
• Fox Glacier Community Development Funding support the contribution of the funding of $13,000 for Fox Glacier from the Tourism Promotions Rate.
• Council requested a full strategic review to be completed of Jackson Bay.
• $6,000 approved for Annual Maintenance costs of Stafford Cemetery

A full list of the decisions will be available in the minutes of the meeting that will be presented to Council at their next meeting on 22 June 2023.

ENDS

Media enquiries to:

Emma Rae, Strategy and Communications Advisor

Emma.rae@westlanddc.govt.nz