New footpaths will be laid around the Clutha district soon - but the cost to ratepayers will depend on where they live.
The Clutha District Council has awarded Fulton Hogan Ltd a $3.8 million contract for $1.72 million worth of new footpaths, $257,000 for safety footpaths and $1.9 million of footpath renewals, drainage renewals and other improvements.
A one-off footpath rate for the 2008-09 financial year will be imposed before a slightly higher amount, to be paid off over the next 20 years, will take effect from July 1 next year.
Milton ratepayers will get the most improvements and, as a result, will pay more in their rates for the work, with the footpath rate for 2008-09 set at $55.13 and $85 annually after that.
Lawrence ratepayers, who did not want many new or improved footpaths, will pay an extra $9 in the coming financial year and then $15 annually after that.
Council district assets manager Jules Witt said the total contract price was estimated to be about 5% over budget, which meant the new rates for the new footpaths would be slightly higher than first thought.
An example of this was in Balclutha, where about 6.8km of new footpaths was expected to add $48 to the annual rates bill instead of the original $42.
But Mr Witt said the council decided to hold off introducing the full new footpath rate until next year, while a lesser amount would be imposed in the 2008-09 year.
The $1.9 million tagged for renewals would be funded from existing budgets which would mean no impact on rates.
Mr Witt said the figures in the draft annual plan for the 2008-09 year and those proposed for the coming 20 years took into account the needs and wants of communities who were consulted about the programme late last year.
The council received 236 submissions - more than any other ordinary annual plan process in previous years - and subsequently reduced the number of footpaths in most areas, with big reductions in Lawrence, Clinton, Stirling and Waihola.
Work on the first footpath renewals will start within the next month with the initial work focused in Milton.
