"Average" rates increase of 7 percent for Horowhenua residents

Veronica from Manakau

June 1, 2023

Last night Horowhenua District Council voted unanimously in favour of an "average" total rates increase of 7 percent.

Council's organisation performance group manager Jacinta Straker said the total dollar increase averages out to 9.1 percent after the growth rate is included.

Mayor Bernie Wanden said, "Our community can be reassured we deliberated well. Discussions were robust and a range of views demonstrated. [Everyone] came with an open mind and were prepared to listen."

Coupled with a vote by Council not to introduce general rating on Capital Value, many residents will be sighing with relief. General rating will instead continue to be rated on Land Value.

The majority of submitters on Council's proposed amendments to the 20 Year Long Term Plan and Annual Plan (2023-2024) said they were potentially facing rates increases of between 12 and 30 percent if general rating on Capital Value had been introduced.

An historic, and unanimous, decision was also made to keep Levin Landfill closed and develop the site for alternative purposes to raise revenue.

Decisions on how to generate an income from the site will be determined by Council's Waste Management and Minimisation bylaw.

Revenue raising ideas discussed in the LTP consultation document include using the site for cleanfill collection or as a native plant nursery, resource recovery park or regional processing facility for organic or construction and demolition material.

The Environment Ministry estimates up to 50 percent of waste in Aotearoa (New Zealand), "comes from construction and demolition."

Hamilton City Council and New Plymouth Council are the only two council's in the country that have adopted Waste Management and Minimisation bylaws requiring all building consent applicants to submit a site waste plan.

Council also unanimously voted in favour of increasing the budget by $75 million to upgrade the water infrastructure - including installing water meters across the district to every household connected to Council's water supply.

Mayor Wanden said, "This decision today is about getting the basics right. The reality is we have to be prepared growth coming our way. We know our infrastructure is under pressure. We are doing the right thing."

He said there had been very little negative feedback about Council's plans to install water meters district-wide.

"I think they know water is a taonga," he said.

Council also voted in favour of increasing Development Contributions, paid by land and property developers towards infrastructure costs, and endorsing changes to the Development Contributions policy.

A proposal to reduce community grants and community group funding by $200,000 or 0.4 percent of the budget was defeated by 8 votes to 5.

The decisions will be formally adopted on 28 June, 2023.