Draft annual plan approved

Tony Lepper
Tony Lepper
Camper-van dumping stations in Alexandra and Cromwell costing about $100,000 each and $100,000 earmarked for cycleway maintenance are among the budget items up for debate by Central Otago ratepayers.

The Central Otago District Council yesterday approved its draft annual plan,

which includes a proposed average rates increase of 3.4% for the coming financial year. Submissions open on April 1 for a month so residents and ratepayers can air their views about the budget priorities for the coming year.

Central Otago Mayor Tony Lepper congratulated councillors and staff for their work on the plan.

''We got there in the end and it's not a bad result.''

Rating examples were included in the plan, highlighting a wide range of rate increases and some decreases, depending on the value of properties and which ward they were located in.

Councillors said there had been a recent revaluation of the district, which could also have an effect on the rates if values had increased or decreased significantly.

Cr Stu Duncan, a Wedderburn farmer, noted ''farmers subsidise a fair bit of the rates''.

Mr Lepper said the dumping stations in Alexandra and Cromwell and the maintenance costs of cycle trails were among the big-ticket items in the budget.

He urged submitters to ''tell us if we got it wrong''. Upgrades for the Naseby and Omakau water supplies have been postponed until the council has sorted out its strategy on delivering water supplies, wastewater and stormwater, including how those projects will be funded.

Exploring affordable solutions for smaller communities will be part of the discussion.

Work on roading, streets and bridges will use 20% of the rates take, wastewater schemes will use 11%, while 10% of the rates will be spent on parks and reserves and another 10% on council water supplies.

A further 10% will be spent on waste minimisation, and the council swimming pools account for 7% of the rates take.

The cost of strengthening two council-owned buildings that have been identified as being at risk in anearthquake is also included in the budget. Work will begin in the coming year on strengthening the earthquake-risk Roxburgh and Ranfurly service centres.

The council has resolved those buildings will be brought up to a level of 67% of the national building standards, as they may be used as a community hub in an emergency situation. The estimated cost of that work is $215,000.

lynda.van.kempen@odt.co.nz

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