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Tasman Continues to Manage Well During Challenging Times

Friday 19 October 2012, 3:54PM

By Tasman District Council

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TASMAN

Tasman District is shaping up well for the challenges it faces now and in the future as one of the fastest growing regions in New Zealand, Tasman Mayor Richard Kempthorne said when releasing the Council’s Annual Report for the 2011-2012 year.
“We are certainly pleased to finish the financial year with less debt than budgeted for in a somewhat testing year. Combined with an increase of working capital and continued growth in the value of the assets managed by Council on behalf of residents to $1.130bn, the District’s finances are in a good state”.

During the year Council purchased $38.1m of additional assets and spent $92.9m on providing services, such as roads, water and recreation facilities. Council’s total borrowings, which had been budgeted to rise to $153.3m, ended the year at $149.1m*.
“Over the last 12 months Tasman has faced several significant weather events that had the ability to adversely affect the District’s health and growth. Rainfall, flooding and debris flows severely affected many settlements, one of which resulted in the first Civil Defence Emergency experienced by our region since 1990.”

“Although these weather events have had an impact on both Council’s work schedule and budgets it was very encouraging to see how positively the communities of Tasman responded to them”, said Mayor Richard Kempthorne. “People took responsibility of their neighbours wellbeing and local businesses took on the challenges they faced to ensure their customers could still rely on their services. The focus at times was placed firmly on delivering the necessities of life and the communities across our District came through with flying colours.”
Despite these challenges Council still managed to deliver on key projects during the year. Some of these were:

 

  • Processing of over 1000 resource consent applications with 98% of non-notified and 91% of notified and limited notification applications processed within the statutory timeframes
  • 96.8% of building consents were processed within the 20 working day timeframe
  • Upgrading stormwater and wastewater systems in Motueka
  • Upgrading wastewater systems in Murchison
  • Commissioning the Takaka township fire mains
  • Further development of Tasman’s Great Taste Cycle Trail
  • Notification of Part 4 of the Tasman Resource Management Plan on Rivers and Lakes
  • Upgrading Mariri and Richmond Resource Recovers Centres
  • 2012 representation arrangements and a by-election in Golden Bay were undertaken
  • Activity associated with the Amalgamation proposal, through to the poll in April
  • Running Ecofest with Nelson City Council – over 5000 attendees
  • Rugby World Cup game delivery support, Fanzones and celebrations
  • Reconstruction of James Road Bridge destroyed in 2010 Aorere River floods
  • International Safe Community accreditation

“Over the last 12 months Council has undertaken a number of consultation processes including the Long Term Plan 2012-2022 and the Annual Residents Survey, which enabled Council to consider and take into account residents views on the future direction of the District. Our thanks go out to all those that gave up their time to participate and contribute – consultation is a vital part of Council’s decision making processes and we will be working hard to ensure we continue to give residents the opportunity to have their voice heard on the issues that matter to them.”
“The rapid growth of Tasman District brings its own set of challenges and during the year Council has continued to work on the draft District plan change for Motueka West and Central, and continue to mediate on appeals for Richmond West rezoning. This work has the objective of providing appropriately zoned land to enable growth to continue in these major centres.”

“This good result shows our focus on delivering core services in a cost effective manner to our residents and ratepayers is the right direction.”
*Excluding joint venture share borrowings.