Long Term Plan consultation document released

Christchurch City Council today adopted a consultation document highlighting major financial issues in its Long Term Plan.

The Plan outlines how the Council will pay for everything it wants to do over the next 10 years.

Mayor Lianne Dalziel says the consultation document is the starting point for the Council and the community to get together and jointly define their priorities and vision for the future Christchurch.

“For the first time it gives the people of Christchurch a clear view of our financial situation and the extremely complex issues facing the city.

“There is no silver bullet solution for our estimated funding shortfall of $1.2 billion. We need to consider a mix of savings, rates rises, asset sales and borrowing to meet the cost of the rebuild.”

The Council proposes spending more than $10 billion over the next decade, just under half of it on capital works that include rebuilding facilities, repairing and replacing old and damaged pipes and roads, improving services and catering for future growth.

The Long Term Plan financial strategy proposes raising $750 million by selling stakes in some Council companies. It also proposes rates increases of 8.75 per cent this year, 8.5 per cent annually in the following two years, and 7.5 per cent in 2018-19.

Mayor Dalziel stresses the Council will make every effort to keep rates down and there is room for further adjustment before the Plan is adopted, and during the next annual plan process.

“There are some tough choices ahead and it is a matter of balancing what is achievable with what is affordable.

“Have we come up with the right solution? Are we prioritising the right community facilities? Are we investing the right amount in the Central City rebuild? Do we find strategic partners with specialist expertise to take stakes in some of our key assets such as the Lyttelton Port Company to improve their performance?”

The Mayor says it is therefore vital that residents have their say when formal consultation on the Long Term Plan opens on 17 March.

“Please hop online at www.ccc.govt.nz/LTP and tell us what’s really important to you. Councillors will consider your feedback before they finalise the Long Term Plan at the end of June.”

Copies of the consultation document are available online, or at Council service centres and libraries. Submissions close at midday on 28 April 2015.

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