Rates hike fails to stir residents
The prospect of a record rates increase has failed to ignite a response from Stratford residents as the cutoff for the district council’s Long-term Plan submissions draws ever closer.
As of yesterday morning, just 27 ratepayers had taken the time to lodge a submission from a population of more than 10,000,
The lack of-interest has prompted Stratford mayor Neil Volzke to make a public appeal, urging those living in central Taranaki to have their voice heard before the council votes on an average rates rise of 15.5%.
“This number [of submissions] is nowhere near what we hope to receive,” Volzke said ahead of tomorrow’s cutoff date. “We’ve had some good discussions online and in person, so we know people have comments to make and are passionate about specific issues.
“But these conversations haven’t carried over to submissions yet.”
In February, Volzke spoke of facing the unenviable task of handing down the biggest rate increase he has known during his 15 years at the council helm and the hard work that had gone into dragging the figure south from a projected 33% hike.
He expected a response from his community that had yet to arrive, despite the submission process being uncomplicated.
Volzke emphasised that ratepayers did not have to give their views on everything in the draft Long-term Plan. The council simply wanted feedback, he said. “If something matters to you, then it’s important and you should share it with us.”
As well as the projected rates rise, Volkze wanted feedback on the council’s decision to strengthen earthquake-prone buildings and on demolishing the old pool complex, maintaining the district’s vast roading network, and upgrading the town centre.
Ratepayerapathy also appeared to be prevalent in South Taranaki, where the district council had received just 128 submissions on its draft Long-term Plan.
People in the district, who are facing an average rates increase of 11.29%, have until the close of business on Monday next week to make their voice heard.
Included in South Taranaki’s draft plan was a proposal to lessen the impact of rising infrastructure costs by drawing down more of its Long Term Investment Fund, delaying capital works, increasing borrowing, and reducing the budgets for the Hāwera town centre revitalisation project and its tourism and events funds.
Submissions on the Newplymouth District Council’s draft Long-term Plan have closed, with a spokesperson confirming the council had received 3221 submissions and gathered research from more than 300 residents.
The number of submissions was lower than three years ago, when hundreds were received from school students who were encouraged to fill in forms ahead of the 2021 Long-term Plan that included the proposed Tūparikino Active Community Hub.
Submission hearings for the New Plymouth council, which proposed an average 9.9% rate increase for the first year, begin tomorrow. Those hearings will continue for a further two days this week and have been scheduled for another two days next week.
The New Plymouth council had highlighted a number of “big calls” in its draft plan.
These included the future of the Brooklands Zoo, substantially increasing the renewal budget for transportation assets, establishing a “sustainable lifestyle capital reserve” using returns from the Perpetual Investment Fund, and spending more than $16 million on a replacement for the Bellringer Pavilion at Pukekura Park.