Wednesday, 10 June 2015

Decisions made on Long-term Plan

Horizons Regional Council approved amendments to its Long-term Plan today, determining what work should be funded and how over the next 10 years.

Horizons chairman Bruce Gordon said the process had been exhaustive but the community could rest assured they had been listened to and councillors had worked hard to develop a Plan that reflected community needs.

“A number of worthy projects were put forward in the 187 submissions we received, leading to some robust debates around the Council table. As always, it was a balancing act. Affordability and core business were key considerations as we made our final decisions,” Mr Gordon says.

“I think as a Council we can take heart from the fact that many of the submissions we received were supportive of work currently underway and I would like to thank all those who did take the time to have their say.”

In its consultation document distributed to households across the Region in April, Horizons identified six key issues upon which it sought community feedback.

These were: weed harvesting in Lake Horowhenua; the Palmerston North bus network review; exiting Council’s role in road safety; changes in Animal Health Board funding; consideration of an increase in funding for the Sustainable Land Use Initiative (SLUI); and increasing its level of knowledge through an enhanced water quality and quantity monitoring programme and upgrades to its flood plain and earthquake risk assessment.

As a result of submissions, deliberations and updated information from the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA), Council resolved to continue its work in road safety education which it had previously proposed to exit in Year 2.

“A large number of submissions came in expressing support for Horizons’ work in road safety. Since releasing our consultation document, we also received confirmation from NZTA that funding assistance would continue at an average rate of 64 per cent across the Region for Years 2 and 3 as well as clarification around the legislative requirements of the Regional Transport Committee to carry out this work.”

Council also resolved to: half fund the Lake Horowhenua weed harvesting project in Year 1 of the Plan before moving to the full funding proposed in Years 2 and 3 in recognition that a full programme of works may not be carried out in the first year; implement improvements to the Palmerston North bus network in Year 3 as proposed; fund $175,000 for Animal Health Board work in the 15/16 financial year made up of targeted rates and reserves; increase the SLUI Uniform Annual Charge to $40.54 by Year 3; and increase water quality and quantity monitoring as per the consultation document.

In addition, Council resolved to contribute to the continuation of the Capital Connection rail service over the next three years, contingent on funding from Greater Wellington and the Ministry of Transport.

Council also supported a submission from the region’s mayors to fund implementation of the Regional Growth Study in Years 1-3 at a rate of up to $230,000 per annum funded from Council reserves in Year 1. The community will be consulted on a 50/50 funding model between rates and reserves for Growth Study implementation in Years 2 and 3.

All submitters will receive a response advising of the outcome of Council’s deliberations.

The final Long-term Plan will now be released for audit and adopted by Council at a meeting on 30 June.

ENDS

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