Budget 2022: What is this year’s focus?
LIVE LOCAL, LOVE LOCAL WITH AUCKLAND COUNCIL
The opportunity for Aucklanders to have their say on the Auckland Council’s proposed 2022/2023 annual budget is coming up. The council’s annual plan consultation document, which outlines the main changes to our budget and work programme for 2022/2023 in comparison to what was approved in the recovery budget (10-year budget 2021-2031), was considered by the council finance and performance committee last week.
Now approved, public consultation is planned from February 28 to March 28.
Public feedback and input from local boards will help inform the final budget.
The council will use a wide range of online and offline options to replace traditional public feedback events that can’t be held because of gathering restrictions within the Covid-19 protection framework.
The council will also work closely with community organisations and other council partners to ensure as many Aucklanders as possible get the opportunity to provide feedback.
The council is managing some complex pressures this year.
The uncertainty created by Covid-19 and unfavourable shifts in major economic influences will be with us for some time.
The ongoing impacts of these pressures are hard to predict, but the key is to have resilience and flexibility in the budget.
In addition to the council’s response to financial pressures, we know Aucklanders want to see an increased and sped-up response to the climate emergency, so that is also a priority.
The key objectives of this year’s budget are to achieve:
■ Faster and further action on climate change;
■ A resilient and flexible response to the immediate budget pressures;
■ Efficient waste minimisation.
Further detail on the proposals, and specific consultation questions, will be provided with the consultation material.
For further information, including the supporting information for this consultation document once it is available next month, you can:
■ visit akhaveyoursay.nz/budget
■ phone 09 301 0101 or
■ visit your service centre or library.
After decisions are made in June, the final budget will be available on the Auckland Council website.
The Rodney Local Board has launched a new pilot with a focus on community safety and protecting the environment in the local board area.
Two new compliance wardens will focus on raising awareness about a range of issues from freedom camping, dogs on beaches and parks, protecting shore birds and other flora and fauna to sediment run-off and environmental management.
Deputy chair Beth Houlbrooke says, ‘‘we think that’s important at a time when we are seeing unprecedented visitor numbers because our travel opportunities are limited.’’
The appointments are for an initial 12-month period and will be reviewed before the end of that.
‘‘These are primarily education roles, and our wardens will work to support communities and groups, as well as work responsively to follow-up on issues as they arise,’’ Houlbrooke says
The board has allocated $140,000 to the pilot. This funding covers the full cost of two fixed-term contingency workers for a period of 12 months.