‘You can’t rate people off their property’
Kerikeri residents are demanding answers to a $23.7 million sewerage project that will see a huge spike in rates.
Up to 80 people turned out to a Kerikeri Ratepayers Association meeting at the Turner Centre on September 15 to voice their concerns after receiving a letter from Far North District Council asking them to opt in or out of the scheme by September 9. This was later extended to September 23.
More than 350 central Kerikeri households in the ‘‘area of benefit’’ will be affected.
If they choose to opt out they will have to pay $1073 a year on top of their annual rates.
Those that do connect will pay $734 for the connection fee plus an extra $1560 a year.
Ratepayers group spokesperson Lindis Capper-Starr says they have written a four-page letter to council outlining their concerns and seeking more information.
Main issues are about the system as a whole, the lack of genuine consultation and that many people on low or fixed incomes won’t be able to afford the rates hike, she says.
Businessman and resident Bill Fenton says more information is needed.
‘‘There is some genuine concern about whether people can afford that.
‘‘You can’t rate people off their property. There’s a lot more questions councillors should be asking the staff about the cost of things. How can you assess the rate value before you know what the costs are?
‘‘People need to be told what’s actually going on.’’
The new treatment plant will be built on rural land about 3 km south of Kerikeri, replacing the existing 25-year-old plant in Shepherd Rd which is operating at its limits.
The council included $23.7 million for the project in its long term plan and plans to meet the costs from a targeted rate and Ministry of Health subsidy.
To get the subsidy, council must have the new plant up and running by October 2017.
Mayor John Carter says the debate about Kerikeri’s sewerage situation has been going on since 1989. Many people he’s spoken to are saying ‘please get on with the job’, he says.
‘‘The fact is that we don’t have a choice,’’ Carter says.
‘‘We have got resource consent and environmental issues we have to address.
‘‘Rates are never fair...there are always issues and always people advantaged or disadvantaged to the rating system. We will do our best to assist those who find it difficult.’’
The ratepayers group is hosting a candidates meeting on September 27, 7-9pm at the Turner Centre.