Rates rises get backing
The city may have to spend more to get ahead.
That appeared to be the consensus at a workshop for businesspeople just before Easter, one of a series of four workshops hosted by Upper Hutt City Council to gather feedback on its Long Term Plan 2015-2025.
Given options of average annual rates increases of 3.2 per cent over the next 10 years that built in scope for some extra projects versus a lower 2.9 per cent average with no ‘‘extras’’, the 13 local business owners who got up for the 7am meeting on April 1 selected the higher rates option.
There was a similar reaction at a later workshop for community, sport and environment representatives, which drew 42 people.
Whether it was apathy, or contentment with the council’s proposals, only eight people turned up to a public meeting on the plans last Wednesday.
The proposed extra projects include:
Improvements to upper valley sections of the Hutt River Trail ($253,000 per annum, if central government is unwilling to provide a subsidy);
Creation of a new walkway/ cycleway from Park St to Cruickshank Tunnel along the original route of the Upper Hutt to Featherston railway line. ($452,000);
A new heritage gallery, workshop space, improved storage and a conference grade kitchen for Expressions ($1.6m);
Installing a ‘‘Splash Pad’’ and ‘‘ Spray Zone’’ for toddlers at Harcourt Park ($245,000);
Instead of upgrading/ repairing community rooms including those on Logan St and in the Hapai building, council might build a new central hub at an indicative cost of $3m, should an initial feasibility study on community needs prove its worth;
Continue with the economic stimulus package (rates, building and resource consent waivers; grants for business relocations, retrofits, earthquake strengthen- ing, $250,000 per year).
But if the businesspeople were prepared to stump up to generate new infrastructure and economic activity, it wasn’t a blank cheque.
Chris Gleeson, from Upper Hutt Pak ‘N Save, pointed out that each time there was a rates increase, that became the council’s new baseline revenue.
‘‘So if we agree to 3.2 per cent, it should have a finite date on it once those [extra] projects are completed.
‘‘We’ve raised that money out of the community to do those particular projects. Once they’re paid for, it needs to be looked at whether than 3.2 per cent is still relevant. It seems to me new projects come along in five years and you want more.’’
Mayor Wayne Guppy said the Annual Plan was debated every year, and priorities in the LongTerm Plan were reviewed every two to three years.
‘‘Well, I’ve never seen the rates go back down once projects have been completed,’’ Gleeson replied.
Amanda Moyer, of central business district store Vogue, said she was all for new tracks for cyclists and upgrading recreation facilities but said neither were likely to bring more shoppers into the central city. There wasn’t enough in the Long Term Plan to boost businesses, she said.
She described the middle of town as ‘‘ a bomb site’’. Upper Hutt’s CBD was losing shops and shoppers to other areas, and more needed to be done to improve the streetscape and foot traffic.
Moyer said she raised similar concerns four years ago and nothing much had changed, though she was excited about the plans of The Mall owner Andrew Budge.
Guppy said the council’s economic stimulus package was about encouraging existing businesses to stay and upgrade, and draw in new players. $500,000 was budgeted for this purpose next year, and $250,000 in each of the following two years.
He agreed with feedback that more accommodation providers were needed in the city.
Other feedback showed people were willing to think outside the square in terms of new initiatives and revenue sources. Ideas that came forward included charging for park and ride at railway stations, creating a luge on one of the local hillsides, and development of the CIT as a conference centre or even a casino.
Submissions on the city’s plans and budgets close April 20. See upperhuttcity.com/consultation