The Whakatāne District Council’s Projects and Services Committee has approved a range of budget adjustments for inclusion in the current (2017/18) year’s capital budgets and 2018-28 Long Term Plan (LTP).

In most instances, the increased costs involved are funded from asset renewal reserves, budget carry-overs, or other sources, with minimal direct impact on water, wastewater or stormwater rates costs.

Reporting to the committee last week, Capital Projects Manager Jim Finlay said that since the draft 2018-28 budget was approved for consultation in the Council’s Long Term Plan, a number of projects had progressed through detailed design or tendering processes. “That has seen the estimated costs increase in some instances, partly reflecting the nature of the projects involved, as well as the impact of the current high demand for civil construction services on contractor availability,” he said.

Projects which have had budget increases approved include:

• Water and wastewater services for the Shaw Road subdivision – work programme advanced to meet earlier than expected subdivision schedule – total cost increase of $525,000, 98% to be funded from development contributions
• Otumahi Water Supply – remote control system installation and valve, bulk meter and connection works – 12% increase in costs ($643,100) to be funded from Plains Water operating and renewal reserves
• Ōhope Water Supply main – new main to be installed from reservoir to West End Road/Pohutukawa Avenue, with associated valves and flow metering fittings – additional costs of $500,000 to be loan-funded
• Whakatāne Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade – installation of additional aquarators - $35,000 brought forward from LTP
• Ōhope Wastewater Ponds desludging – additional $140,000 to be carried forward from renewal reserve funds
• Murupara Water Supply mains renewals and backflow prevention device installations - $340,000 carried forward from existing budgets

The report also set out forward-planning for the replacement of the Murupara wastewater treatment resource consent, noting that the 2018-28 LTP budget for renewing the wastewater system should be reduced to $3 million, with a further $6.14 million to be funded in the period beyond the 2018-28 LTP.