Budget limitations around key investment projects is forcing Tauranga City Council commissioners to alter priorities as they deliberate the city’s next 10-year Long Term Plan.
Following the Government’s repeal of the Water Services Acts, Council now needs to provide for planned investment in water services from year three of the LTP onwards and some projects have been pushed out.
Commission chair Anne Tolley says because of this additional three waters capital, changes are required to timing of major projects across the business.
Tolley says they have also taken into account how many infrastructure projects the city can cope with at any one time and spread the delivery phases of these.
"Since taking on our roles, we have been playing catch-up on years on underinvestment in the city, however we are also mindful that the city has a threshold for disruption linked to infrastructure projects. What we've tried to do here is create a balance, so that the city doesn’t fall further behind, but that key works are staggered.
“The Ōtūmoetai and Mount multi-modal projects have been moved towards the end of the LTP period.
“This reflects revised prioritisation indications from the government for NZTA subsidy.
“However, tackling Tauranga's congestion issues is more important than ever, so the Turret Rd/15th Ave project which could really ease pressure in that part of town, has been moved to earlier in the LTP.
“Cameron Road Stage 2 costs have been increased and rephased to be completed by the end of 2030 rather than the completion date of 2028 at the time of the draft LTP. This considers some planning uncertainties yet to be resolved.”
Council has agreed a residential rates increase from the draft Long-Term-Plan and created a new "rating category" to help make the system fairer.
A new industrial general rate means residential rates are about three per cent lower than they would have been.
The 2024-2034 Long Term Plan will be adopted at a council meeting in April.
|
|
Capital Value 2021 |
LTP consultation Increase % |
Deliberations Increase % |
Increase $/pw |
TSP IFF Levy Increase % |
TSP IFF Levy Increase $/pw |
|
Residential |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Low Residential (1%) |
$385,000 |
5.7% |
9.4% |
$3.60 |
1.4% |
$0.55 |
|
Lower Quartile (25%) |
$785,000 |
6.5% |
9.0% |
$4.91 |
2.0% |
$1.12 |
|
Median (50%) |
$980,000 |
6.7% |
8.9% |
$5.55 |
2.2% |
$1.39 |
|
Upper Quartile (75%) |
$1,220,000 |
6.9% |
8.7% |
$6.33 |
2.4% |
$1.73 |
|
High residential (99%) |
$3,930,000 |
7.8% |
8.3% |
$15.22 |
3.1% |
$5.58 |
Note: Final rates are being calculated based on direction from commissioners at deliberations today. Final rates will be published on April 22 when the LTP is adopted.
4 comments
The Master
Posted on 05-03-2024 14:13 | By Ian Stevenson
There are no "budget constraints"????
There are reckless and rampant spend-ups, budget blowouts and more that are the norm @ TCC. There are the "desired" spend-ups that have no reality in them, never will... so they do that anyways... why? Because they are personally desired, that is the bench mark measure for priority type decisions on anything.
There is no $$ for the important stuff, anything else is fine of course.
Then why is council constructing commercial buildings
Posted on 05-03-2024 14:19 | By jed
If council are so cash strapped, why are they building a 150 million dollar conference center in town? Surely it should be up to private commercial operators to decide whether such a building is viable?
Hmmm
Posted on 05-03-2024 16:20 | By Let's get real
I don't believe what I'm reading.
Council considering costs is unheard of... But it didn't happened before they had their own quarters sorted out comfortably first.
Every time that I pass the new building project that is to be built to exorbitant standards and costs, it upsets me immensely.
Ivory Tower doesn't come close to describing the structure. I'm disgusted by the attitude of the council in lavishing themselves with extremely expensive ephemera and harbour view offices, when they could just as efficiently and effectively carried out their work from humble offices at Tauriko.
Disgusting.
Failed accountant says what….
Posted on 05-03-2024 19:48 | By Informed
Love these comments. Especially from the ones that clearly don’t understand what’s going on.
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