Rates relief offered to earthquake affected

Earthquake-affected households in the Waimakariri district are being offered rates relief by the local Council, in recognition that some homes are uninhabitable, others are not receiving sewer services and businesses are in trouble.



At the monthly meeting of the Waimakariri District Council yesterday, councillors agreed to waive rates for any uninhabitable homes or businesses until they are able to be used again. That might mean between 300 and 1000 properties would not be paying between $470,000 and $1.5million in total rates.



Up to 200 properties which have had no reticulated sewer systems for more than a month because of the earthquake will be able to apply for relief from the sewer rate until the system is back in operation.



Three instalments of the Central Business Area rate within Kaiapoi have been waived for the area’s 119 businesses, amounting to around $90,000 in rates usually collected for the 10 month period from 1 September to 30 June 2011.



An application form and fact sheet will be established once the remission criteria has been fully drafted and approved. This information, together with the latest New Zealand Red Cross Earthquake Commission Emergency and Hardship Grant information would be included with the next rates invoice, which will be sent out in the next fortnight.



The Canterbury Earthquake (Local Government Act 2002) Order 2010 enables Council to amend its rates remission policy, as intended, without initiating any special consultative procedure.



Mayor Ron Keating says the Waimakariri District Council understands the severe impact the earthquake has had on the community, especially those unable to live in their homes or operate their businesses.



“The Council’s remittance of all rates for these people is an acknowledgement of the difficult and challenging times people face,” he says.



The Council intends to approach central Government to see what contribution they are able to make regarding the loss of rates’ income.



“It’s all a bit of an unknown in terms of how much it might actually cost because people have yet to hear whether they’re able to get back into their homes or not, depending on issues including land stabilisation and insurance coverage.”