Hurunui rates rise trimmed to 10.98%

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter

Hurunui ratepayers are facing a slightly lower rates hike of 10.98 percent.

Hurunui District Council staff have taken a fine-tooth comb to the 2024-34 long-term plan budgets to find some savings, after earlier proposing a rates rise of 12.37%.

Councillors gave clear instructions to staff to find some savings during deliberations earlier this month.

Speaking at Tuesday’s council meeting, chief financial officer Jason Beck said savings had been found across several budgets.

The staff allocation for this year has been reduced from 155.41 to 150.05 full-time equivalents and the councillors’ mileage allowance has also had a trim.

The pain is expected to continue, as the the council is predicting a 14.49% rates hike for the 2025-26 financial year, Beck said.

But the rate rises from year 3 were expected to drop below 5%.

The council consulted on investment in roading, the development of the Queen Mary Historic Reserve in Hanmer Springs and rating for stormwater activities.

Provision has also been made to replenish the coastal bund at Amberley Beach.

A bund is a type of embankment which protects against the sea.

Amberley Beach ratepayers will be levied $303.56 a year, an increase from $258.83 a year, which was requested by the residents’ group.

Chief executive Hamish Dobbie said the council was also exploring purchasing land at a cost of $1 million as it plans for future proactive relocation as part of the Amberley Beach Coastal Adaptation Plan, which was adopted last year.

It would be debt funded and paid off by a targeted rate, once an agreement has been reached with residents.

The final 2024-34 long-term plan is due to be adopted at the next council meeting on June 25.

■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.