Council to miss plan deadline by two months
THE Waimate District Council will not meet the statutory deadline for adopting its longterm plan.
The council’s draft longterm plan for 202131, which proposes a total rates rise of 9.9% in year one, opened for submissions this week.
The consultation period closes on July 8, and the council is aiming to adopt the plan by August 31 — two months after the statutory deadline.
The main impact of missing the June 30 deadline is on council’s ability to rate; it can only do so if it has a longterm plan in place. The 201828 plan expires on June 30.
Two councils missed the 2018 deadline — their delays described as ‘‘unacceptable’’ by the auditorgeneral — and three did not meet the 2015 timeframe.
The Waimate District Council has put its late adoption of the plan down to ‘‘the significant flooding event experienced in January, impacts and delays through Covid19 and the requirement to divert a significant level of resources to meet tight timeframes . . . on the Government’s Three Waters reform programme’’.
Three rates increases are proposed in the longterm plan, but the council’s preferred option is a total rates increase of 9.9% next year, increases of 7% in the following two years, and an average rates rise of 2.5% a year for the following nine years.
Keeping a rates rise in check last year due to Covid19 provided some relief for ratepayers, but the council now needed to meet the $377,700 shortfall.
The council was anticipating its operating expenses to increase from $20.255 million in 202122 to $23.425 million in 203031, and the new kerbside rubbish and recycling service, rural water scheme upgrades, and a declining return on the council’s investment in Alpine Energy Ltd were also driving the increase.
‘‘Keeping rates manageable is always at the forefront of council’s operations, however, increased levels of service, infrastructure renewals and contributing factors outside of our control all cost money. Therefore we need residents to help us decide how we will best meet these commitments,’’ Waimate Mayor Craig Rowley said.
‘‘It is critical that we continue sustainably growing our district, and we realise council has a major role in ensuring the quality of life for all residents.’’
The Waimate longterm plan has a focus on investment and maintenance of core infrastructure, and outlines the impact climate change, Covid19, Three Waters reform and proposed changes to the Resource Management Act could have on the council’s services.
‘‘We encourage all ratepayers to read the consultation document, take a look at what we’re proposing and let us know their views through the submission process,’’ Mr Rowley said.
Mr Rowley, councillors and council staff will be hosting ‘‘community chat’’ consultation sessions throughout the district.