Rates rise likely to be 2.9 per cent

3 June 2014Waipa District Council looks likely to settle on a total 2.9 per cent rate increase for the next financial year.

This is significantly less than the 4.7 per cent originally signaled in the 10-year plan.

The Strategic Planning and Policy Committee recommended today that Council formally adopt the 2014-2015 Annual Plan, including a 2.9 per cent annual rate increase, at its June council meeting.

Ninety-four submissions were received on the draft plan with 21 submitters speaking directly to councillors. Following submissions, council asked staff to allow for a number of projects in the Annual Plan including:

• $4.4 million on a new library for Te Awamutu
• $325,000 for urgent maintenance on the Cambridge pool
• $140,000 for two more staff, plus materials and equipment to be used for maintaining parks and reserves
• $25,000 for hortwort weed control at Lake Karapiro
• $5,000 for the Kakepuku mountain conservation project.

Small increases in existing grants are likely for Sport Waikato ($1,700) and the Pirongia Heritage and Information Centre ($1,600).

An additional $33,000 looks set to be budgeted for seal extension projects on Waterworks Road (Te Miro), McCandlish Road (Temple View), Grove Road (Te Pahu) and Middle Road (near the airport). This brings the total recommended expenditure on seal extension projects in 2014-2015 to $550,000.

Following deliberations, the money allowed for capital works next year increased by $5.4 million to a total of $38.5 million.

The request from the Te Awa River Ride Charitable Trust for $250,000 for additional cycleway development in the Waipa district was declined.

A full copy of the Annual Plan will be included in the June council agenda, ready for formal adoption.

ends

For further information please contact:

Jeanette Tyrrell (on behalf of council) 027 5077 599