Rates impact not factor in boundary decisions, says Mayor

REDRAWING the ward maps in the Waitaki district could have unintended consequences for some ratepayers.

Duntroon farmer Geoff Keeling said due to the way the council calculated rates for different wards in its jurisdiction, his rates — which at present were roughly $62,300 a year — would increase nearly $2500.

‘‘All I’m asking for is the council to have a little consid eration around that,’’ he said.

Mr Keeling was the only member of the public to make a verbal submission during council hearings on its representation review. Four nonverbal submissions were made.

The council has proposed redrawing its maps to extend the sparsely populated Ahuriri ward into the boundary of what is at present the Corriedale ward, to recognise the community of interest represented by the Ahuriri ward councillor.

Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher said he was surprised to learn the amount of rates impact Mr Keeling would face, but said the council could not use the ratings implications in its determination of a proposed boundary change.

‘‘It should not be driven by that, how we determine the result,’’ Mr Kircher said. ‘‘The legislation requires us to look at communities of interest and representation for the people; that process needs to be kept pure and changes in rates shouldn’t be part of that, but we have other mechanisms if we think people are being unfairly impacted upon. There are other processes we can use to look at how we bring equity into that side of the equation.

‘‘I hasten to point out [Mr Keeling] is very much an exception because of the significant property, number of properties and value of properties that he has.’’