Council Votes to Keep Four Public Toilets, Rates to Increase by 2.6 per cent in 2010/11

At a meeting to consider changes to its Draft Annual Plan 2010/11, the Waitaki District Council has decided on a total rates increase of 2.6 per cent for 2010/11. The Draft Plan had proposed a rates increase of 1.8 per cent. Total rates will rise to $24.39 million in 2010/11 compared with $23.76 million budgeted for 2009/10.

Councillors made a number of changes to the Draft Plan after considering written and verbal submissions from the public on May 12-13.

Council’s proposal in the Draft Plan to close four public toilets in Oamaru attracted 85 submissions, many of them opposing closures of some or all of the four toilets. Council has now decided to keep open the toilets at Awamoa Park, Severn St and Thames St. The two toilets at the Public Gardens toilets will remain open until Council decides to replace the facilities with a new block.

Other changes to the Draft Plan included reinstatement of the $50,000 Oamaru Business rate (at the request of the local Chamber of Commerce) and creation of a new “events co-ordinator” resource at the Waitaki Development Board. The events co-ordinator will assist volunteers with marketing advice for existing events and attract new events to the District . The proposal has the support of the Chamber of Commerce and will cost $65,000 per year funded from the Oamaru business rate.

A number of Rural Water Supplies that have fallen into deficit will increase water rates or use cash reserves to balance their budgets next year.