Annual Report adopted

Southland District Council has received an unqualified Audit report to its 2010-11 Annual Report, which was adopted at a meeting yesterday. Council chief executive David Adamson said the past year had been testing with disasters both locally and nationally. However, Southland remained resilient and Council is still in a strong financial position.

Deputy Mayor Jim Copland said the annual report epitomised Council's mission of "Working together for a better Southland." The report shows several achievements this year.

Highlights for the year included the introduction of kerbside recycling in the district and the completion of the Edendale-Wyndham water and sewerage schemes. Significant progress on projects such as the Around the Mountain Cycleway, the Stewart Island levy, and the District Plan has also been made.

Council spends a large percentage of its income on roading and this continues to be a challenge with Government funding being reduced. Council has been trying to work smarter in its roading programme and has completed a large amount of work under budget.

Council returned a net deficit of $1.7 million, less than the budgeted surplus of $3 million. This was principally due to the timing of a number of projects.