Kaikōura adopts annual plan

The Team Reporter from The Press

From local democracy reporter David Hill:

The Kaikōura District Council has adopted its annual plan with ‘‘one of the lowest rates rise in the country’’.

Councillors adopted the 2022-23 annual plan on Wednesday, June 29, with an average rates rise of 4.63%.

Mayor Craig Mackle said the comparatively low rates rise was a credit to the hard working council staff.

‘‘Considering we are not cutting back on anything from what we proposed in the long-term plan (LTP) and the times we are in, the guys are doing a fantastic job.

‘‘The biggest highlight for me is definitely being so close to what we predicted and still being able to do what we said we were going to do.’’

The average rates rise of 4.63% is higher than the 4.04% signalled in the LTP, due to inflation and global supply shortages.

Chief executive Will Doughty said it was the first time the council had produced an annual plan without consulting with the community.

‘‘This is because we are simply delivering on year two of our 2021-31 LTP.

‘‘We consulted extensively with our communities to develop the LTP, and there are no major differences between this annual plan and

the forecasts for year two of the LTP, other than the timing of some capital projects.

‘‘We do have one of the lowest rates rises in the country and hopefully that will be well received.’’

Doughty said the council did complete a residents survey earlier this year, which helped ‘‘inform our decisions around the annual plan’’.

‘‘The survey confirmed we are spending in those areas where our community has identified as needing improvement, most notably roads and footpaths.

‘‘The survey didn’t raise any unforeseen issues.’’

Doughty said the rebuild from the 2016 earthquake had left the council in a strong position.

The Government’s Three Waters stimulus funding had reduced the burden on ratepayers in improving drinking water supplies and wastewater treatment systems.

Other capital projects in roading and three-waters were being funded by loans and reserves to reduce the impact on rates, Doughty said.

Three major projects, the replacement of the Glen Alton bridge over the Waiau-Toa Clarence River, the Wakatu Quay development and the

Link Pathway, between the town centre and Kaikōura Peninsula, had also been delayed due to Covid-19.

The Wakatu Quay development and the Link Pathway were expected to be completed next year, while the Glen Alton bridge was now due to be completed in 2025.