HUTT CITY COUNCIL NEWS RELEASE

3 JUNE 2016

Hutt City Council sets 2016/17 Annual Plan

Hutt City Council determined their key projects and initiatives for the year ahead at a Community Plan Committee meeting yesterday.

This follows consultation on the proposed Annual Plan, on which 1229 written submissions were received, and more than 110 submissions presented to Council in person.

More than 84 per cent of respondents agreed with Council continuing to invest in
rejuvenation and infrastructure projects, as outlined in the Long Term Plan.

Lower Hutt Mayor Ray Wallace says this support for continuing the programme of rejuvenation is a great confirmation that Council is on the right track. “It’s essential the community agree with the direction we are taking our city in. We’ve enjoyed a tremendous couple of years with the development of new facilities that help stimulate economic and social growth in our city, and this work is set to continue.”

Council proposes an average rates increase of 2.7 per cent, the lowest forecast in the region. Council will meet on 23 June to strike the rates for the 2016/17 year. An additional 1 per cent will be added to the rates in 2017/18.

Mayor Wallace says, “We are committed to seeing our city grow and this requires investment, but we don’t want to burden our community with unreasonable rates or debt increases. We believe we’ve struck a balance, and are pleased to again have one of the lowest, if not the lowest rates increase in the region.”

In this year’s Annual Plan Council has granted an additional $4.5 million to proceed with the development of a community hub in Stokes Valley, to replace the existing Stokes Valley Library. Detailed design work and resource consent is likely to be underway before September and the project completed before the end of 2017.

Council will continue to offer the first hour free in time restricted parks in the CBD until 15 January 2017. The continuation of the trial for a full calendar year provides Council more data to analyse on spending in the CBD. It also provides retailers surety to promote this initiative as a cornerstone for their own activity, especially over peak retail periods.

To offset some of the lost revenue as a result of this extension of free parking, parking prices in other parts of the city will increase from 1 July 2016. While the first hour in two-hour HC2 time limited parks will be free, the cost of the second hour increases from $1.50 to $2.50. The cost of all day parking in HC3 zones, which is currently $6 a day, will increase to $7 a day. The cost of parking in HC4 zones, currently $4 a day, will increase to $6 a day.
Other funding signed off in yesterday’s meeting includes:

· $60,000 per annum to increase city-wide arts funding, allowing a broader range of community programmes and activities to be undertaken.

· $120,000 per annum for five years for strategic promotion of events. This will be used to work with industry to attract more conferences and events to Lower Hutt, in light of the development of community event facilities.

· $60,000 in 2016/17 for further work on the Petone 2040 Development Plan. This is to allow greater community engagement and consultation on the plans

· $140,000 in 2016/17 for the Petone and Wainuiomata Sportsville Groups to progress preliminary design options, funding plans and community consultation.

· $40,000 seed funding in 2016/17 for a new visitor facility at Christ Church in Taita, the oldest church in the Wellington region.

· $30,000 for Hutt Valley Tennis in 2016/17 to allow the club to undertake feasibility studies to reduce the size and reconfigure the clubrooms and $200,000 in 2017/18 in support of the physical work.

· $60,000 in 2016/17 for promoting programmes and activities for Petone Settlers Museum.

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