On 24 June 2010 the Environment Canterbury commissioners adopted the annual plan for 2010/11 and struck the regional rates for the financial year from July 1.

The overall rise will be 3.3 per cent, down from nearly 9 per cent in the draft plan. The general rate will decrease by 0.5 per cent, compared with 2009/10. The draft plan had proposed a 3.9 per cent increase.

Total expenditure (rates, user pays, grants, interest and Reserves) will be $134 million, ($141 million in the draft plan). Expenditure for 2009/10 was $124 million.

The council received 438 submissions on its draft annual plan for 2010/11 and commissioners heard verbal submissions from around 90 representatives or individuals. As a result of submissions, changes were made to the 2010/11 work plan, addressing water management and the need to reduce rate increases.

View the Annual Plan 2010/11