STDC approves Annual Plan for consultation

The public have a chance to comment on the South Taranaki District Council's proposed 2011/2012 Annual Plan when consultation starts on 31 March.

Council approved the proposed plan at last night's (21 March) ordinary meeting.

The plan includes a proposed general/roading rate and uniform annual general charge (UAGC) increase of 3.93%. The water, waste water and kerbside rubbish recycling collection targeted rates are also proposed to increase by $25, $26 and $16 respectively.

Total rates for all properties, whether urban or rural, are increasing by about 4-5% (Including targeted rates), which for the average urban household is around an extra $1.93 a week.

South Taranaki District Mayor, Ross Dunlop, says he is pleased the council was able to keep the increase at a level around the rate of inflation and increase in GST.

"The general, roading and UAGC rate increase projected in our Ten Year Plan had been much higher (6.10%)," he says.

"Thanks mainly to internal cost savings and lower interest rates on our loans we have been able to reduce that figure considerably. At the same time we are continuing to upgrade our districts water infrastructure and have increased our debt repayments - which is a great result," says Mr Dunlop.

Key proposals within the Plan include;

* Total expenditure of $53.7 million, which is $773,000 less than projected in the Ten Year Plan

* An increase in loan repayments from $460,000 to $1.24 million a year

* Constructing a new water treatment plant and reservoir in Patea, water supply upgrades in Opunake and Waimate West and new water bores for Waverley, Waverley Beach and Waiinu

* Development of a Trade Waste Bylaw in 2012

* Repeal of the Pan Tax

* Extra spending on; district halls ($220,000), pensioner housing maintenance ($337,000) and stormwater projects ($205,000)

Mayor Dunlop says the Annual Plan Proposal is just that, a proposal.

"This is your chance to let us know what you think about the proposed plan, so please take some time to have a look at it or attend one of our public meetings," he says.
Full copies or summary copies of the 2011/2012 Annual Plan Proposal will be available from 31 March, from the council's website www.southtaranaki.com , any LibraryPlus facility or the Council's administration building in Hawera.

Consultation runs from Thursday 31 March until Tuesday 3 May. Submissions can be made during this period by post, fax, e-mail, hand delivery or on-line on the council's website.

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