Environment Canterbury (ECan) councillors this week adopted the long term council community plan and struck the rates for 2009/10.
More than 600 submissions were received on the plan, with half of these opposed to the proposed water cost recovery charging regime. This has now been deferred for a year to allow more community consultation.
The council approved a total rates increase of 6% for 2009/10, (made up of a 10.6% overall increase in general rates and 1.1% increase in targeted rates). Total expenditure in 2009/10 goes up almost 14% to $124 million. This includes increases in grants, particularly for public passenger transport and energy conservation.
(For the breakdown into district by district rates and property comparisons see charts below.)
Key decisions – changes from the long term plan:
Water management cost recovery deferred
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. Water management cost recovery has been deferred for a 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 proposed changes in the draft long term plan accepted by council include:
• 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 the Clean Heat Project. This has now been broadened to include the benefits of aligning with the Government’s new insulation and heating package announced in the Budget. Changes will be detailed on the www.cleanheat.co.nz website from early July.
• funding for a new Ashley/Rakahuri Regional Park
• funding for the Lake Tekapo Regional Park, 40% from a fixed targeted rate for Ashburton, Timaru, Waimate and Mackenzie District Council ratepayers and 60% from general rates (the long term plan proposed to target rate just Mackenzie and Timaru ratepayers. This change reduces the targeted rate per property from 70 cents to 41 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.
General rate dollars from each district of Canterbury region
General rates 2009-2010 % change from 2008-2009
Kaikoura $437,440 -9.4%
Hurunui $1.66m 7.3%
Waimakariri $3m 5.5%
Christchurch $23m 1%
Selwyn $3.7m 7.8%
Ashburton $3.8m 16.9%
Timaru $2.9m 9.4%
Mackenzie $864,389 12.1%
Waimate $1m 28.4%
Waitaki $520,547 6%
TOTALS $41m 5%
Effects of the rise on particular properties’ rates for next year, 2009/10:
Comparable rating values district to district Canterbury region
The council tracks a number of example properties throughout the region. The rating total includes the general rate and targeted rates which vary from place to place eg biosecurity and pests, catchment rates for flood protection, passenger transport and civil defence. The changes also reflect shifts in property values with increased rural property values, particularly irrigated properties, and reductions in some urban areas.
District Capital value of property 2009-2010
ECan rate 2008-2009
ECan rate Movement $ terms Movement %
Kaikoura - rural $1.7 m $672.92 $738.10 -$65.18 -9%
Kaikoura-urban $345,000 $156.63 $161.40 -$4.78 -3%
Hurunui - rural $1.125 m $610.18 $558.05 +$52.14 9%
Hurunui - urban $265,000 $107.50 $92.15 +$15.35 17%
Waimakariri - rural $3.1 m (up from $2.55 m) $1,313.03 $1,249.32 +$63.71 5%
Waimakariri - rural $1.075m (up from $800,000) $461.11 $397.10 +$64.01 16%
Waimakariri - urban $285,000 (up from $245,000) $168.35 $163.63 +$4.72 3%
Christchurch – rural, Wairewa $1.34m $953.83 $901.43 +$52.39 6%
Christchurch City - urban $400,000 $300.08 $293.50
+$6.58 2%
Christchurch – urban, Kainga $336,000 $181.06 $177.19
+$3.87 2%
Christchurch – urban, Lyttelton $379,000 $250.66 $259.12 -$8.46 -3%
Christchurch – urban, Akaroa $514,000 $181.11 $173.68 +$7.43 4%
Ashburton - rural $2.7 m $2,533.80 $2,607.93 -$74.13 -3%
Ashburton - urban $200,000 $154.59 $139.97 $14.62 10%
Selwyn - rural $3.6 m $1,642.43 $1,579.34 +$63.09 4%
Selwyn – urban, Lincoln $340,000 $198.84 $193.21 +$5.63 3%
Selwyn – urban, Leeston $235,000 $138.45 $131.93 +$6.52 5%
Timaru – rural, see note below* $1.85m 2008, (up from $900,000 2005) $758.15 $451.09 +$307.06 68%
Timaru City – urban $235,000 (up from $190,000) $136.54 $126.85 +$9.69 8%
Timaru – urban, Temuka $205,000 (up from $170,000) $127.49 $125.40 +$2.09 2%
Timaru – urban, Geraldine $270,000 (up from $220,000) $131.25 $124.75 +$6.50 5%
Timaru – urban, Pleasant Point $265,000 (up from $210,000) $206.87 $198.38 +$8.50 4%
Mackenzie - rural $3.25 m $1,675.42 $1,545.02 +$130.40 8%
Mackenzie - rural $2.1 m $1,027.53 $957.15 +$70.38 7%
Mackenzie – urban, Fairlie $160,000 $112.42 $98.30 +$14.13 14%
Mackenzie – urban, Twizel $175,000 $90.48 $75.74 +$14.74 19%
Mackenzie – urban, Tekapo $480,000 $218.84 $195.32 +$23.52 12%
Waimate - rural $2.35m $1,222.04 $986.20 +$235.85 24%
Waimate - urban $195,000 $104.24 $77.30 +$26.93 35%
Waitaki - rural $6.975 m $3,147.46 $2,995.20 +$152.26 5%
Waitaki - rural $1.325 m $612.16 $575.97 +$36.19 6%
Waitaki – urban, Kurow $205,000
$149.13 $135.97 +$13.16 10%
Waitaki – urban, Otematata $170,000
$76.33 $64.53 +$11.80 18%
• The rural Timaru example was revalued last year and had a larger than average increase due to significant rises in values for dairy properties in Timaru. This property is an irrigated dairy support unit which was recently sold.
For further information: Sir Kerry Burke, Chairman, Environment Canterbury, 027 542 5848.