Long-term Plan for Porirua focussed on future

Porirua City Council adopted its Long-term Plan last night with a focus on getting the basics right and weighing competing priorities with limited resources to ensure a better future for Porirua.

“This is a belt and braces budget and I am confident it will fulfil our vision for a prosperous, healthy and active Porirua, while ensuring the daily activities of the city run smoothly,” say Mayor Nick Leggett.

“We have a forward and continual programme of looking to save costs and maximise the return on our investments. Nobody is happy with rates rise and we know we have work to do to improve future savings.”
“That’s why we’ve confronted the city’s financial issues in this plan and have changed the way we’ve previously done thing so future generations are not left with debt and deficits. We are putting more funds aside to renew the city’ assets and infrastructure while ending a cycle of deferral so that residents tomorrow don’t bear the consequences of expediency today.”

To fund the works in the LTP, the average rate increase for the next year is 4.8 per cent.

“Our rates are high but it’s not because we spend more than our peers. Our issue is that we don’t yet have enough rate paying residents to help reduce the overall cost.

“Nevertheless we have worked hard to balance affordability with progress and investment. Most of the rates spend will go on key city infrastructure with $300 million budgeted for capital expenditure – things like the three water networks, roading, pathways, parks and mountain bike tracks.”

Mayor Leggett applauds the decision to adopt a new priority - Children and young people at the centre of city decisions.

“This new priority for Porirua makes clear our commitment to the children and young people. Around 40 per cent of our population is under the age of 25 so we need to plan for their futures. We won’t be duplicating central government services. Instead we’ll use current resources and focus them on improving opportunities and advocating for kids and working in partnership with others.”

Protecting Te-Awarua-O-Porirua Harbour is the Council’s second priority.

“The significant works on the sewer and stormwater networks in this LTP will directly benefit the harbour along with the implementation of a catchment-wide sediment reduction plan and an ecological enhancement plan for the Porirua Stream mouth.”
The Council will invest $21 million toward public improvements in the central city and surrounding area - part of the Council’s third priority: A growing, prosperous and regionally connected city.

$12 million will be spent over the next three years on remodelling the city centre public space and making the area more pedestrian friendly.

The Council has assets of over $1.2 billion, $970 million of which is infrastructure.
“Over the next 10 years we will invest $155 million to reduce risk of failure in our infrastructure assets and this will be funded by debt and by rating for depreciation.”

The Council is also committing $3 million for improvements to the intersections along Whitford Brown Avenue including a right turn into The Fjord and pedestrian safety measures at Papakowhai Road, Okowai Road and Routeburn Avenue.

The Council’s fourth and final priority for the city is: A great village and city experience.

“Providing a Performing Arts Centre and an outdoor wet playground are new initiatives in this LTP that will add to the enjoyment of living in Porirua,” Mayor Leggett says.
“We’ve been approached by Aotea College to partner with them in a new auditorium that would serve the school as well as the wider community. If agreed, construction is likely to be two to three years away and we’ve allocated $1 million in 2018/19 for this or to another option depending on what’s possible at the time.”

Council has also budgeted $500,000 capex for an outdoor wet playground facility in year 1 of the LTP and will consult on options and potential sites with the community.

The following policies were also adopted this week as part of the LTP: Financial Strategy; Revenue and Financing Policy; Infrastructure Strategy; Rates Remissions and Postponement Policy.

The Long-term Plan 2015-25 was independently audited by Ernst & Young and received an unqualified opinion. EY’s report can be found on page 24 of the LTP.

The LTP and all supporting documentation can be found online at www.pcc.govt.nz, at Porirua libraries and the front counter of the administration building.

ENDS

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