Council Makes Tough Decisions on its Draft Annual Plan

After spending two days deliberating over the 78 submissions to its Draft Annual Plan for the 2008/09 year, the Hurunui District Council has held tight continuing to limit the General Rate increase to only 3.6%.

Deputy Mayor, Michael Malthus is pleased with this result, “which comes after not only grappling with some tough decision making around escalating costs for infrastructure and solid waste, but also meeting our communities needs”. Says Malthus, “We are pleased to have come in under the 5.2% rate increase we predicted in the Hurunui Long Term Council Plan 2006 – 2016, and at the same time, have been able to accommodate a number of our residents and ratepayers submissions”. The Annual Plan for 2008/09 will be adopted at Council’s 26 June meeting and will take effect from 1 July 2008.

The key issues identified in the submission process were roads, solid waste, local amenities and Hanmer Springs township enhancements. “We heard strong arguments for continued spend to improve our roads”, Malthus said. Several submissions were received from Woodbank Road residents in Hanmer Springs to seal their road with a commitment from some to pay a share of it themselves. “As a result, Council will be discussing with Woodbank Road residents the possibility of funding 50% of the cost of sealing some of the road, as it is not eligible for 50% funding from Land Transport New Zealand,” Malthus explained.

Another bonus for Hanmer Springs, is a proposal to finally see the demise of the open drain in Amuri Avenue, which has caused angst amongst residents for years. Described as an eye sore and a hazard, Council has agreed to pipe and fill in the drain. Local ratepayers will fund 25% of this with the general rate picking up another 25% of the cost. The remaining 50% will be funded through Land Transport NZ. No amenity rate increase will be needed if the Community Board reprioritises its amenity spend.

The Motunau Beach Ratepayers Association requested financial support from Council for building a jetty at the beach. “The Association has got stuck in and built the jetty as they saw real benefit for the District. Council agrees with them and I’m happy to confirm that Council will contribute $7,500 toward the cost”, said Malthus.

Users of the ex Amuri County Council building will benefit this winter from the installation of a heat pump in the old chambers room. Councillors Wendy Doody and Judy Meikle are both happy with this decision. “This building is of historic value and an asset to the community and we need to look after it. The chambers are freezing in the winter and the current heating is ineffective. The heat pump will help out considerably and be far more comfortable to people using the room”, said Councillor Doody. Council also approved funding to install heat pumps in the Amuri Area School and Community Library. The school has agreed to pay half the cost. “The problem in the library was just the opposite to that of the Chambers. The library is like a sauna in the summer and very unpleasant for patrons, and for volunteers and staff to work in”, Councillor Doody went on to say. The Amuri Area School will receive another chunk of the 2008/09 budget with Council having agreed to contribute $10,000 toward the cost of sealing the car park area which services the shared School and Council library/service centre.

Several projects will be considered for inclusion into Council’s next 10 year plan which takes effect from 1 July 2009. Projects such as improvements to the District’s water quality; a decision around the future of the Amberley swimming pool – to enhance, rebuild or leave as is; the continuation of funding to eradicate Wilding trees in the Cheviot Ward and for the Culverden netball/tennis courts; footpaths in Cedar Place, Amberley; and recladding the Leithfield Beach Community Centre. The Hurunui District Council will announce the decision it made about Solid Waste later this week.

As the result of a submission, Council will investigate any possible demand for pensioner housing in Culverden. Council plan to build more pensioner flats in Amberley in the 2008/09 year as the waiting list consistently exceeds the availability of the units. The funding for the new properties is to come from the Canterbury Community Trust. However, there are no Council owned pensioner units in Culverden and therefore, no waiting list. Councillor Doody said Council will, “test the waters to assess the need there”.

All in all, we feel as though we have successfully worked our way through the submissions and found solutions or compromise on most”, says Malthus.