Plan formally adopted

The New Plymouth District Council has formally adopted the 10-year Long Term Plan they approved at a meeting earlier this month.

The plan was passed with a majority vote at a council meeting on Wednesday afternoon, but councillors John McLeod, Mike Merrick, and Murray Chong voted against the motion.

The motion saw the council formally adopt the plan, which included $526 million in capital expenditure and $1.71 billion in operating expenditure over the next 10 years, an average increase in total rates requirement of 4.0 per cent over the 10 years, and an average increase of three per cent for residential rates over the same time period.

Projects included the Coastal Walkway extension to Waitara, zero waste and improving the water network.

It does not include selling part of Peringa Park to pay for flagship projects.

At the last extraordinary meeting on June 6, mayor Neil Holdom apologised for any upset caused by his proposal of selling part of the Fitzroy Golf Course to fund the flagship projects, and recommended against the proposal, which was carried by the council.

The rates for the financial year, from July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019 were also set, including the uniform annual general charge of $400, general rates, targeted rates for roading, refuse, sewage, water, swimming pool compliance and the home heating scheme, and due dates and penalties.

General commercial rates will be charged at 1.7804 cents per dollar of rateable value, while residential will be charged 0.4299c, small holdings 0.2705c and farmland 0.2835c.