HAVE YOUR SAY

Once you’ve read through the consultation document, let us know in the submission form below how you feel about Council’s approach to the following proposals:

• Cyclone targeted rate: Council’s proposal will add a new targeted rate to pay for Cyclone Gabrielle-related costs for a term of 16 years. This is based on completing roading projects over the next six years. Going slower over a nine-year period would reduce some costs but would mean some routes will remain vulnerable to further weather events.
• Growth: Council’s proposal will continue to unlock opportunities for residential and industrial growth in line with its previously signalled growth strategy. However, we will need to limit the number of areas we have open for growth so ratepayers are not exposed to financial risk. We could open further areas more quickly, but this means more debt and risk to recovering development contributions.
• Nice-to-have projects: Council’s proposal will mean taking a breather from new nice-to-have projects. This means things like park upgrades, central city improvements, walking and cycling initiatives and new events will not be delivered.
• Three-year rates and debt plan: Due to the significant costs we are facing, an overall three-year rates and debt plan has been proposed and included in the draft plan. It is based on a debt to revenue ratio of 250 per cent for the next five years and balancing the Council budget by year two.