Latest news with #LocalWatersDoneWell
Scoop
14-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
‘Addicted To Spending': Ratepayers Fight ‘Wicked' 12% Rates Rise
Ratepayers are urging Tauranga City Council to 'rein in spending' and focus on the basics to curb a 'wicked' 12% rates rise. The council christened its new chambers on Devonport Rd yesterday with a meeting to hear public feedback on its Annual Plan for 2025/26. The plan, which proposed an overall rates rise of 12%, received 968 written submissions and 96 people asked to speak to the council directly. Submitters on Tuesday asked for rates to be reduced, more community facilities in Pāpāmoa, and gave feedback about Local Waters Done Well. Mark Kenyon-Slade said there was 'great frustration and annoyance' because rates kept going up 'relentlessly'. 'There's a feeling there out there that council is addicted to spending. 'Council needs to rein in spending. Spending other people's money is extremely easy. 'It is a responsibility of us all around this room to take this more seriously.' Kenyon-Slade questioned why the rates increase was 12% when inflation was less than 3%. 'It's wicked, it's absolutely wicked.' Ōtūmoetai resident Neil Pollett said the council's rates increase should be capped at the rate of inflation. 'Ratepayers are not a bottomless pit of money that TCC can keep mining to fund its future pet projects. 'A lot of residents feel unhappy with the direction of our council and feel utterly powerless in their ability to influence it.' Jan Gyenge said the residential rates increase was not sustainable. 'There should be no residential rates increase in the 2025/26 annual plan.' Gyenge said $40 million in savings needed to be found so residential rates wouldn't need to be increased. 'Ratepayers need to be respected.' Removing that increase would make a positive step towards building people's trust and confidence in the council, she said. Mayor Mahe Drysdale said the council had found $29m in savings to bring the rates rise to 12%. 'We are on track to hopefully find another $10m of savings, and unfortunately that only gets us to a 10% average rate rise.' To avoid a rates rise, the council would need to find $80m in savings, Drysdale said. Ron Melville of Pāpāmoa said the council should spend 50% of its budget on core services, 30% on parks, reserves and public space and 0% on 'overpriced city centre developments'. 'We are not here to bankroll a downtown utopia while our own footpaths crumble and our parks go unmowed. 'This is not about being anti-progress, it's about getting the basics right.' Construction has started on parts of the council's $306m new civic precinct, Te Manawataki o Te Papa. Nathan York, chief executive of Pāpāmoa East-based development company Bluehaven Group, said about 30% of Tauranga's population lived in the eastern corridor. He wanted the council to invest in facilities for Pāpāmoa. 'We're particularly keen to see an aquatic facility that meets a regional and national standard.' Pāpāmoa Rugby Club chairman Nick Jones said Gordon Spratt Reserve, where the club was based, was over capacity and used by many sporting codes. He asked the council for land at 4 Stevenson Drive, in Golden Sands, to be zoned active reserve so fields could be built and the club could relocate there. This would enhance recreation facilities for the growing Pāpāmoa community, he said. It would be an ideal a permanent home for the rugby club, Jones said. 'Our proposal supports the social, cultural, and sporting fabric of Pāpāmoa.' Submitters also spoke about Local Water Done Well. There was an even split between people who were in favour of the council joining with other councils to deliver three-waters services, and those who believed the council had good water infrastructure and didn't need to partner with others. The Annual Plan and Local Water Done Well hearings would continue on Thursday. The council would deliberate on the Annual Plan on May 26. - LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
1News
14-05-2025
- Business
- 1News
'Addicted to spending': Ratepayers fight 'wicked' 12% rates rise
Ratepayers are urging Tauranga City Council to "rein in spending" and focus on the basics to curb a "wicked" 12% rates rise. The council christened its new chambers on Devonport Rd yesterday with a meeting to hear public feedback on its Annual Plan for 2025/26. The plan, which proposed an overall rates rise of 12%, received 968 written submissions and 96 people asked to speak to the council directly. Submitters on Tuesday asked for rates to be reduced, for more community facilities in Pāpāmoa, and gave feedback about Local Waters Done Well. Mark Kenyon-Slade said there was "great frustration and annoyance" because rates kept going up "relentlessly". "There's a feeling there out there that council is addicted to spending. "Council needs to rein in spending. Spending other people's money is extremely easy. "It is a responsibility of us all around this room to take this more seriously." Kenyon-Slade questioned why the rates increase was 12% when inflation was less than 3%. "It's wicked, it's absolutely wicked." Ōtūmoetai resident Neil Pollett said the council's rates increase should be capped at the rate of inflation. "Ratepayers are not a bottomless pit of money that TCC can keep mining to fund its future pet projects. "A lot of residents feel unhappy with the direction of our council and feel utterly powerless in their ability to influence it." Jan Gyenge said the residential rates increase was not sustainable. "There should be no residential rates increase in the 2025/26 annual plan." Gyenge said $40 million in savings had to be found so residential rates wouldn't need to be increased. "Ratepayers need to be respected." Removing that increase would make a positive step towards building people's trust and confidence in the council, she said. Mayor Mahe Drysdale said the council had found $29m in savings to bring the rates rise to 12%. "We are on track to hopefully find another $10m of savings, and unfortunately that only gets us to a 10% average rate rise." To avoid a rates rise, the council would need to find $80m in savings, Drysdale said. Ron Melville of Pāpāmoa said the council should spend 50% of its budget on core services, 30% on parks, reserves and public space and 0% on "overpriced city centre developments". "We are not here to bankroll a downtown utopia while our own footpaths crumble and our parks go unmowed. "This is not about being anti-progress, it's about getting the basics right." Construction has started on parts of the council's $306m new civic precinct, Te Manawataki o Te Papa. Nathan York, chief executive of Pāpāmoa East-based development company Bluehaven Group, said about 30% of Tauranga's population lived in the eastern corridor. He wanted the council to invest in facilities for Pāpāmoa. "We're particularly keen to see an aquatic facility that meets a regional and national standard." Pāpāmoa Rugby Club chairman Nick Jones said Gordon Spratt Reserve, where the club was based, was over capacity and used by many sporting codes. He asked the council for land at 4 Stevenson Dr, in Golden Sands, to be zoned active reserve so fields could be built, and the club could relocate there. This would enhance recreation facilities for the growing Pāpāmoa community, he said. It would be an ideal permanent home for the rugby club, Jones said. "Our proposal supports the social, cultural, and sporting fabric of Pāpāmoa." Submitters also spoke about Local Water Done Well. There was an even split between people who were in favour of the council joining with other councils to deliver three-waters services, and those who believed the council had good water infrastructure and didn't need to partner with others. The Annual Plan and Local Water Done Well hearings would continue on Thursday. The council would deliberate on the Annual Plan on May 26. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air
NZ Herald
13-05-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
Tauranga rates hike criticised; calls at council hearings to ‘rein in spending'
Submitters on Tuesday asked for rates to be reduced, more community facilities in Pāpāmoa and gave feedback about Local Waters Done Well. Mark Kenyon-Slade said there was 'great frustration and annoyance' because rates kept going up 'relentlessly'. 'There's a feeling there out there that council is addicted to spending. 'Council needs to rein in spending. Spending other people's money is extremely easy. 'It is a responsibility of us all around this room to take this more seriously.' Kenyon-Slade questioned why the rates increase was 12% when inflation was less than 3%. 'It's wicked, it's absolutely wicked.' Ōtūmoetai resident Neil Pollett said the council's rates increase should be capped at the rate of inflation. 'Ratepayers are not a bottomless pit of money that TCC can keep mining to fund its future pet projects. 'A lot of residents feel unhappy with the direction of our council and feel utterly powerless in their ability to influence it.' Jan Gyenge said the residential rates increase was not sustainable. 'There should be no residential rates increase in the 2025/26 annual plan.' Gyenge said $40 million in savings needed to be found so residential rates wouldn't need to be increased. 'Ratepayers need to be respected.' Removing that increase would make a positive step towards building people's trust and confidence in the council, she said. Mayor Mahé Drysdale said the council had found $29m in savings to bring the rates rise to 12%. 'We are on track to hopefully find another $10m of savings, and unfortunately that only gets us to a 10% average rate rise.' To avoid a rates rise, the council would need to find $80m in savings, Drysdale said. Ron Melville of Pāpāmoa said the council should spend 50% of its budget on core services, 30% on parks, reserves and public space, and 0% on 'overpriced city centre developments '. Construction has started on parts of the council's $306m new civic precinct, Te Manawataki o Te Papa. 'We are not here to bankroll a downtown utopia while our own footpaths crumble and our parks go unmowed, Melville said. 'This is not about being anti-progress, it's about getting the basics right.' Nathan York, chief executive of Pāpāmoa East-based development company Bluehaven Group, said about 30% of Tauranga's population lived in the eastern corridor. He wanted the council to invest in facilities for Pāpāmoa. 'We're particularly keen to see an aquatic facility that meets a regional and national standard.' Pāpāmoa Rugby Club chairman Nick Jones said Gordon Spratt Reserve, where the club was based, was over capacity and used by many sporting codes. He asked the council for land at 4 Stevenson Drive, in Golden Sands, to be zoned active reserve so fields could be built and the club could relocate there. This would enhance recreation facilities for the growing Pāpāmoa community, he said. It would be an ideal a permanent home for the rugby club, Jones said. 'Our proposal supports the social, cultural and sporting fabric of Pāpāmoa.' Submitters also spoke about Local Water Done Well. There was an even split between people in favour of the council joining with other councils to deliver three-waters services, and those who believed Tauranga had good water infrastructure and did not need to partner with others. The Annual Plan and Local Water Done Well hearings will continue on Thursday. The council will deliberate on the Annual Plan on May 26.
Otago Daily Times
30-04-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
In-house water delivery service preferred by district council
Photo: RNZ Any chance of Waitaki setting up a regional water company with neighbouring South Canterbury authorities has been scuppered, with Waimate district preferring to go it alone. Waimate District Council chief executive Stuart Duncan confirmed the council's preferred choice was to operate in-house. "The government's Local Water Done Well legislation mandates council to have a preferred option. "After weighing all risks and supposed benefits of the joint-council WSO [water services organisation], the council is of the opinion that the Waimate district would be better served by in-house water delivery services. The final decision will rest with elected members and the people of our district. Public consultation will begin on May 15." Waitaki District Mayor Gary Kircher said the decision was not unexpected. The government's new Local Waters Done Well legislation requires the Waitaki District Council to present the Department of Internal Affairs with a costed water services plan by September. The options presented are continuing to deliver water services in-house or forming a council water services organisation to deliver water services. The Waitaki council last year approved further investigation and development of Otago and Southland joint council options. It noted the Clutha, Gore and Central Otago District Councils and the Dunedin City Council had already resolved to support this work. They had also supported and assisted in the Timaru District Council-led investigation and development of North Otago, South and Mid-Canterbury joint options, relying on Waitaki, Waimate, Timaru and Mackenzie to proactively participate. The Canterbury option was now "highly unlikely", Mr Kircher said. "While that was an option, it wasn't the council's preferred option," he said. "We're still very focused on getting the best deal for our ratepayers and doing our best to manage the increasing costs of water. "That remains our focus and we know that still remains the focus of Central Otago, Clutha and Gore, the other members of the southern group." Consultation with the Waitaki community starts on May 9. Asked if Waimate District Council felt it was unappealing to work with Waitaki, Mr Duncan responded, saying: "Waitaki are consulting on three options ... The South Canterbury CCO model will leave the door open for Waitaki to join. It should be understood that we are consulting on the immediate future, and all future in-house arrangements can join a CCO in the future, and CCOs can join with other CCOs at a later date."
Scoop
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
CEO Monthly Update: Engaging With Our Community
This month, I've had the opportunity to travel across our region, meeting many of you in person. These interactions are crucial as they not only allow me to see the impact of our work firsthand but also provide a platform to hear directly from you—our residents. During my visits, I had many productive conversations. It was useful to hear about what we are doing well and, importantly, what we can improve. A common theme in these discussions was the desire for better communication about Council activities and more involvement in decisions that affect your local environment. It's clear that our community wants to be more informed and engaged in the processes that shape the district. As we aim for better transparency and inclusivity, I want to remind everyone that the submissions for our Long-Term Plan (LTP) are open until midday on May 2. This plan sets out our priorities and initiatives for the future, and your input is essential to ensure it truly reflects our community's needs and aspirations. Please make sure your voice is heard by participating in this important process. Additionally, starting mid-May, we will commence consultation on "Local Waters Done Well." This consultation, necessitated by the Local Water Done Well Act, invites you to voice your opinions on shaping the future delivery models of our water supply, wastewater, and stormwater services, and how these essential services should be managed to meet local needs and legislative requirements. This consultation is crucial as it helps align local needs with new regulatory frameworks, ensuring that water management strategies are both effective and reflective of community values and priorities. Your feedback is a critical part of how we grow and improve our services.
