Roading costs lead to small rates hike

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from Northern Outlook

By David Hill, local democracy reporter

Waimakariri ratepayers can expect a small rates hike to balance the council’s ballooning roading budget.

Mayor Dan Gordon says the council has increased its proposed rates rise from 5.97%, signalled in the draft annual plan, to 6.24% as staff work to keep on top of rising road maintenance costs.

"Most of the emails, messages and submissions we have received are around roading issues.

"So when it came down to a decision whether we defer some road maintenance or do we keep up with the work we do, the message from ratepayers was pretty clear."

The extra 0.27% rates rise will net an additional $220,000 for council staff to spend on roads.

Gordon said he had been talking to other councils around the country that were facing similar issues with rising roading costs.

And for some, their roading budget had already blown out, he said.

With the rising roading costs, Gordon said staff will be monitoring the council’s contractor closely to ensure road maintenance is kept up to date.

"We feel that level of audit is very important when we are talking about ratepayer and tax payer money."

The increase to the roading budget was the only change from the draft annual plan presented to ratepayers earlier this year.

The council will meet again on June 20 to sign off the 2023-24 annual plan.