What will the next 10 years bring?

Looking forward to the next 10 years has been a key focus for Waikato regional councillors in recent months. We’ve got some heady issues to address for our region, and the hard reality is that demands on our budgets – some of which are out of our control – have increased.

We’ve made some tough decisions in preparing this 2018-2028 Long Term Plan, and every step of the way we’ve continued to provide a high level of service while being realistic about cost and what ratepayers can afford over the next 10 years.

But given that 76 per cent of the Waikato region benefits from our flood protection assets – that’s things like floodgates, pump stations and stopbanks – we simply can’t defer work to maintain and replace them. If they fail, communities, farmland and roads will be flooded.

But this is seriously expensive work. The cost is likely to be more than we have put aside for this work through our depreciation reserves and this will mean more cost for our ratepayers, especially those people in the Lower Waikato and Waihou Piako catchments.

There are other cost drivers too. Central government expects us to report on the suitability of rivers and lakes for recreation, and amendments to resource management and health and safety legislation is adding to our costs too.

All up we’re proposing an average general rates rise of 4.2 per cent to existing ratepayers in the first year of the plan – that equates to less than $50 a year more for the large majority of ratepayers.

There are just eight topics we’re calling for public submissions on. For some – such as the regional theatre and proposed increase to the regional emergency services fund – there’s been general agreement between the councils that it’s fair and equitable for all ratepayers to contribute. To do so effectively is a role the regional council can play.

Here’s what we’re consulting on:

Contributing $5 million to the cost of building and maintaining a world-class regional theatre in Victoria Street, Hamilton, and contributing $300,000 annually from 2020/21 to an asset maintenance reserve fund.

Rating Hamilton residents to part-fund an interim passenger rail service between Hamilton and Auckland.

Increasing the rate for the regional emergency services fund to include Land Search and Rescue (LandSAR), as well as surf life saving services at Hot Water Beach.

Increasing the biosecurity rate to enable the council to tackle the growing threat of pest animals and plants in the region.

Using investment fund returns to maintain the rates subsidy and reduce funding for regional development.

Funding depreciation of our assets.

Catchment rates for new works, such as soil conservation, erosion prevention and stream protection works to protect land and water.

A community facilities framework for assessing who should contribute to funding regional sports, recreation, cultural and arts facilities.

So, have we got things right? We’ll make final decisions in June. Please consider submitting on our proposals before 4pm on Monday 16 April by visiting waikatoregion.govt.nz/ltp-fwd10.

And if you have any questions, call 0800 800 401 to get in touch with your constituency councillor to talk it through with them.

-Alan Livingston is chair of the Waikato Mayoral Forum and the regional council. The views are his own.

SUPPLIED An artist’s impression of what the new Waikato Regional Theatre could look like from the river. Full designs are still to be done.