Waimakariri council looks to keep rates rise under 9%

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from Northern Outlook

By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter

About $690 million is set to be spent over the next 10 years replacing Waimakariri’s assets and planning for the district’s rapid growth.

The Waimakariri District Council is proposing an average rate rise of 8.94%, as recommended by staff, as it looks to complete its draft 2024-34 long-term plan (LTP).

Mayor Dan Gordon described the draft LTP as ‘‘a prudent and responsible budget’’.

‘‘We started this long-term plan with a proposed 19% rate increase based on our work programme.

‘‘For this reason, we have deferred $120m of non-essential works to the outer years to bring our rate increases to what we understand will be one of the lowest in Canterbury.

‘‘But I want to make it clear, while we have made savings, we are not compromising on our level of service.’’

The district’s population is projected to grow from about 70,000 to 82,075 by 2034, based on Stats NZ’s high growth scenario.

The council is planning to consult on five key themes as it plans for growth.

These include how best to manage the natural environment, flood resilience, provision of community facilities, extension of the Rangiora Library and the proposed Rangiora eastern link road.

The council has spent $10m of unbudgeted spending over the last three years in response to major storm events, and is planning ahead by establishing a permanent infrastructure recovery team this year.

In the last LTP in 2021, the council signalled it would build a new community centre in Pegasus and make provision for future facilities in Ravenswood.

The council announced last year it had reach an agreement with Templeton Group to purchase land on the Pegasus lakefront.

It is now consulting with the community and Templeton Group on the detailed design of a community centre, and plans to begin construction by the end of next year.

The council is also negotiating with Templeton Group to buy land for future community facilities to serve the growing Woodend and Ravenswood community.

Gordon said the council was in talks with Canterbury Cricket and Canterbury Country Cricket about extending Mainpower Oval to accommodate more cricket pitches and training facilities.

‘‘If we want to keep first-class cricket in Rangiora, we need to put in a level of investment, so we are developing a partnership around that.’’

The council will meet again on February 27 to adopt the draft LTP, before it goes out for consultation from March 15 to April 19.

■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.