Environment Canterbury (ECan) councillors this week spent 14 hours debating the shape of the council’s work programmes and how they will be funded for the next ten years. They were deliberating upon 606 submissions received on the draft long term council community plan.
The council approved a total rates increase of 6% for 2009/10, (made up of a 10.6% increase in general rates and 1.1% increase in targeted rates). Total expenditure in 2009/10 goes up almost 14% to $124 million.
Effects of the rise on particular properties’ rates for next year, 2009/10, NB these figures are interim:
A Christchurch property, capital value $400,000, will pay 3% more ECan rates from $294 to $302.
A Lyttelton property, capital value $379,000, will pay 3% less rates (thanks to changes in the Metro targeted rate) from $259 to $251.
An Akaroa property, capital value $514,000, will pay 4.4% more ECan rates from $174 to $181.
A Waimakariri District farm, capital value $3.1 million, will pay 2% more, from $1249 to $1273.
A Waimakariri District property, capital value $285,000 will pay 5% more, from $164 to $171.
Ashburton rural properties in general will pay 4% less rates, but urban properties will pay 12% more.
A Timaru property, capital value $235,000, will pay 9% more from $127 to $139.
A Temuka property, capital value $205,000, will pay 2% more, from $125 to $127.
Key decisions – changes from the long term plan:
Water management cost recovery deferred
Of the 606 submissions, more than half of these opposed the proposed water cost recovery charging regime, many advancing similar points. Some councillors were also concerned that the reasons for the cost recovery had not been well communicated to the community. The proposed charges would have transferred $2.2 million from the general rate paid by all property owners, (where it is currently funded), into charges upon water resource consent holders, including hydro companies.
The Council was divided evenly 7-7 on the proposal to introduce water state of the environment cost recovery changes in 2009/10, hence the subsequent increase in general rate. A majority vote was needed to impose the new charges and keep the overall rates increase to the level of inflation. Decisions on the issue of water management cost recovery were subsequently deferred for another year to allow more time for consultation with key stakeholders and consent holders.
Bovine Tb and waste exchange funding
Council reinstated Bovine Tb and waste exchange funding, in response to ratepayers concerns.
Other changes largely accepted:
Other changes outlined in the draft Long Term Council Community Plan were largely accepted by Council, some by majority vote, including:
• the Uniform Annual General Charge (less than $9 per household) which funds councillors representation and public information.
• increased funding for flood protection from the Waimakariri River
• changes to eligibility for Christchurch’s Clean Heat Project, although this has been amended to include the benefits of aligning in coming months with the Government’s new insulation package announced in the Budget.
• funding for a new Ashley/Rakahuri Regional Park
• funding for the Lake Tekapo Regional Park, 40% from a targeted fixed rate for Waimate, Waitaki, Mackenzie and Timaru District Council ratepayers and 60% from general rates (the long term plan proposed to target rate just Mackenzie and Timaru ratepayers. This change to spread the targeted rate wider reduces the targeted rate per household from 70 cents to around 50 cents.)
• widening the rating base for public transport targeted rates from the Diamond Harbour side of Lyttelton Harbour.
• a new targeted rating proposal for Selwyn District Metro services.
• a fixed annual charge for resource consent compliance monitoring administration and for the charging model to be reviewed annually.
For further information: Sir Kerry Burke, Chairman, Environment Canterbury, 027 542 5848.