Long Term Plan confirmed
Includes $200 million investment in capital investment in the next four years
Your rates in action — the iconic Waihi Falls are now safe to visit and explore after work done in the last year.
With Debbie Perera of Audit New Zealand giving the thumbs up to the Tararua District Council’s Long Term Plan, the long process of setting the policy of council finally reached its conclusion on June 30 at the TDC’s monthly meeting.
Her only concern was the impact central government’s decision on Three Waters changes may have — a concern shared by all councils.
Group manager corporate Raj Suppiah spoke on the challenges of preparing this Long-Term Plan during the pandemic, saying that as well climate change and a growing population in the Tararua has made this plan very different from previous plans.
Suppiah said he was very proud of the Long Term Plan and his opinion was also reiterated by finance manager Cameron McKay, who said finance was the key factor in deciding where the district was in 10 years.
He said with a $200 million investment in capital investment in the next four years it was future looking, calling finance “the enabler” for future progress.
On the issue of the 9.44 per cent increase in rates, Suppiah said he had “never seen a rates increase due to district valuation increases like it but surprisingly there had been less negative feedback than previous years”.
It was only slightly higher than originally proposed to the public and the latter’s support of spending on community development, recycling, debt repayment and saving for storm events damage had given his team the okay to pursue its preferred options. He said he had worked hard to fairly distribute the rates burden among the six sources.
Mayor Tracey Collis thanked the finance team for a great effort in putting together such a complex document.
Even a solar powered compacting rubbish bin.