Investing in Marlborough’s future

Marlborough District Council’s mission statement is to “invest in Marlborough’s future, our people, quality lifestyle and outstanding natural environment”.

Public consultation begins next month on our long-term plan 20242034 and with this mission firmly front of mind, my job as mayor is to ensure the council has the plan in place to help Marlborough succeed – and that the plan is achievable, fair and affordable.

It costs about $180 million a year to run Marlborough and our proposed long-term plan – the council’s key planning tool – maintains the services you receive now. Unlike some councils around the country, we have not proposed significant cuts in services, hours, facilities or funding.

Compared to other regions, Marlborough continues to hold its own – many of our economic indicators reflect a resilient economy. The council wants to keep a steady-as-she-goes approach, maintaining a course that allows the people, economy and environment of Marlborough to progress and thrive.

There are headwinds though and like a lot of councils, we have faced challenges in preparing this 10-year plan: inflation, insurance, rising contract prices and the double whammy of needing to unwind our Covid Rates Relief fund. The fund is a subsidy set up in 2020 to keep rates below the cost of inflation while we dealt with the immediate impacts of Covid.

Marlborough has the added challenges of the 2016 earthquake and the 2021 and 2022 storms, the latter causing hundreds of millions of dollars of damage to our roading network, particularly in the Sounds. These events also depleted our Emergency Events Reserve fund.

It’s vitally important we’re prepared for any future emergency so a new general rate to replenish this reserve, starting in 2026, is proposed.

Upgraded stop banks for Spring

Creek will provide future protection for that community and transport links, including State Highway 1 and the rail line.

One of the biggest challenges in our long-term plan is how to fund our $106m local share of the $234m repair and improvement bill. Once we’ve heard from the public and finalised our funding plan we can get on with the job of fixing the roads.

This long-term plan continues our strong capital expenditure programme with a focus on core infrastructure and public services: pipes in the ground, water treatment facilities and road maintenance.

We propose to invest $790m over the next 10 years, $85m more than our previous 10-year plan. With this we will ensure Marlborough does not go backwards but forges ahead.

In some areas we’re proposing a modest increase in services to enhance community satisfaction and wellbeing as well as solutions for local issues. These include resurfacing the Riverside Park boardwalk, sediment removal in the Taylor and Ōpaoa rivers, a new pavilion for A&P Park, a new Arts, Culture and Creativity Strategy and continuing the successful Small Townships Programme.

We’re also proposing additional funding for the Marlborough Museum and Edwin Fox Visitor Centre.

Public input is always key to a good plan so we will need everyone’s help in shaping Marlborough’s next 10 years and beyond. Please read our long-term plan consultation document and have your say from April 4.

The council wants to keep a steady-as-shegoes approach, maintaining a course that allows the people, economy and environment of Marlborough to progress and thrive. Nadine Taylor, Marlborough mayor