After deliberating on community submissions to its 2018-28 Long Term Plan, the Whakatāne District Council has signalled a number of changes, and a small decrease in the average rate rise proposed for 2018/19.

Mayor Tony Bonne says the LTP hearings and deliberations were a lengthy but rewarding process. “This is an opportunity for people to tell us about their concerns and aspirations for the District and for elected members to consider how the Council can address the community’s priorities,” he says. “As always, there is a gap between what we would like to do and what the community can afford to do, but I feel we have found a good balance through this LTP. We’ll now prepare the final LTP for auditing and approval next month.”

Key changes to the budgets set out in the LTP consultation document (subject to audit confirmation) are:

• A delay in equalising Murupara’s water and wastewater schemes, until there is greater clarity around the nature and cost of future upgrading works (reducing the targeted rates for water and sewerage for Murupara urban properties by about $270 in 2018/19)
• A reduction in the average rates rise across the district, to 3.83% (down from 3.99%)
• Loan-funding a $700,000 shortfall in Museum redevelopment costs (over 25 years)
• Loan-funding an additional $396,400 for Three Waters project costs (over 25 years)
• An additional $150,000 per year for 2018/19 and 2019/20 to fund a shortfall in the District equalised water reserve (equivalent to a 0.34% increase in the rates requirement)
• A $340,000 gain in roading subsidy income in 2018/19 (equivalent to a 0.75% decrease in the rates requirement)
• Increased interest expense of $120,000, to cover costs relating to the 2017 flood event which have yet to be recovered (equivalent to a 0.27% increase in the rates requirement)
• Setting aside $0.5 million from sales proceeds for Council-owned land at Piripai for future work required to extend the Mōtū Trails cycleway from Ōpōtiki to Whakatāne Airport, including a possible foot/cycle bridge across the Whakatāne River (to be matched by funding provided by the developers of the Piripai block)
• An additional $50,000 set aside to establish a facilitation fund to investigate and assist community groups in securing external funding for a range of proposed projects, including a mountain bike park and extensions and improvements to the Whakatāne Skate Park

“The Council also agreed to work with the clubs and organisations seeking the installation of a roof for the outdoor pool at the Whakatāne Aquatic Centre, which if successful in achieving external funding, could see that project proceed in 2019/20,” Mayor Bonne says.

“Given all of the ‘must-do’ projects we have on the books, to be able to peg-back the proposed average rates rise was very satisfying. We now look forward to delivering on all of our service commitments and working with the community to make our District an even better place to live in 2019 and beyond.”

Commitments set out in the LTP consultation document which have been confirmed include $150,000 in additional funding for tourism and events promotion; and an increase in the Council’s debt cap from $75 million to $80 million.

Other decisions in response to community submissions included:

• Closure of Te Kōputu a te whanga a Toi on Sundays, from 10 June until Labour Weekend 2018, on a trial basis
• That an additional $10,000 be provided from the Harbour Fund for the annual grants budget, to fund Surf Life Saving water safety activities
• Continuing funding for the Whakatāne Ki Mua coordinator’s role
• Providing $15,000 towards the cost of sealing Cemetery Road in Galatea