Whakatane District Council is asking the public to have their say on the draft Annual Plan 2013/14 and draft Fees and Charges 2013/14, which are now open for feedback. These documents highlight the proposed budget, projects, and fees and charges for the year beginning 1 July 2013.
The draft Annual Plan represents year two of Council’s Long Term Plan 2012-22 (LTP) and takes on a ‘business as usual’ approach. There are not many changes from the programme set out in the LTP, with Council’s main focus remaining on the key principles of Affordability, Sustainability and Responsibility. “These principles aim to balance people’s ability to pay with the need to maintain assets and deliver services, so the community gets the best value for money from its Council,” Mayor Tony Bonne says.
“We have proposed an average rates increase of 2.47 percent for the coming year, which is the lowest increase for the past 10 years. Our rates pay for a wide range of things that people often overlook – everything from roads to footpaths, halls to boat ramps, water to sewerage, parks to reserves, and much more.”
Mayor Bonne is calling for the public to get involved in the development of the Annual Plan and help influence the future of our district. “We will read and listen to your feedback before we make final decisions about work programmes, priorities and expenditure. Knowing your views and what is important to you helps us work towards the kind of district you want.
“Our vision as a Council is to make the most of the opportunities that our district provides, to be the place of choice for people to live, work and play. We need to hear from you if we are going to realise that vision,” he says.
Consultation on the draft Annual Plan and draft Fees and Charges opened on 11 March. Submissions can be made by visiting Council’s website (www.whakatane.govt.nz) or filling in a submission form and dropping it in to our Council offices in Whakatāne or Murupara.
Alongside the draft Annual Plan, the Council is also consulting all ratepayers connected to a sewerage scheme about Matatā Sewerage Reticulation options. While the issue particularly affects residents in Matata, given the Council’s rating policy, all ratepayers connected to a Council sewage scheme (excluding Murupara) could pay slightly higher rates if a sewerage system is developed in Matata.
The draft Annual Plan Summary will be delivered to residents, via the Bay Weekend edition of 16 March and to PO Boxes in the Murupara area. Submissions close at 5.00pm on Friday, 12 April 2013.