Articles
Category Submissions Show all
-
Buller District Council acknowledges submissions to 2024/25 Enhanced Annual Plan
Ratepayers and community members who gave submissions as part of the 2024/25 Enhanced Annual Plan (EAP) process will soon receive letters of acknowledgement from Buller District Council via post.
These letters have been produced based on the information provided on the submission forms. We have been unable to send letters to submitters whose forms did not contain a postal address or contained an incomplete address.
Anyone who made a submission as part of the EAP process who has not received a letter and requires one, can contact council via info@bdc.govt.nz
The information provided in theContinue reading
Ratepayers and community members who gave submissions as part of the 2024/25 Enhanced Annual Plan (EAP) process will soon receive letters of acknowledgement from Buller District Council via post.
These letters have been produced based on the information provided on the submission forms. We have been unable to send letters to submitters whose forms did not contain a postal address or contained an incomplete address.
Anyone who made a submission as part of the EAP process who has not received a letter and requires one, can contact council via info@bdc.govt.nz
The information provided in the body of this letter is provided below for reference:
Enhanced Annual Plan 2024/25
Thank you for your recent contribution and feedback towards Buller District Council's Enhanced Annual Plan for 2024-2025.
Buller District Council (BDC) typically updates the ten-year Long-Term Plan every three years, setting the strategic and operational direction and budgets. However, due to the introduction of ‘Local Water Done Well’ by the coalition government, Council decided to defer the adoption of the LTP by 12 months, which was an option given by government. Council has instead produced an Enhanced Annual Plan for this year, continuing the implementation of Year Four from the Long-Term Plan 2021-2031.
Following the Enhanced Annual Plan hearings where all written and verbal submissions were reviewed, the Council finalised the direction for 2024-2025 and the document was adopted at the Council meeting on 26 June 2024.
All submissions and full details relating to the decisions can be found at bullerdc.govt.nz/your-council/meetings/ or manual copies are available at Westport Library and Reefton Visitor and Service Centre. A copy of the 2024/25 Enhanced Annual Plan is also available at the Council’s offices and libraries in Westport and Reefton. It can be downloaded from our website: https://bullerdc.govt.nz/plans/
If you would prefer a different format, require clarification, or have any queries, please contact info@bdc.govt.nz or call (03) 788-9111.
-ENDS-
For further information please contact:
Community Engagement Team
Buller District Council -
Draft Enhanced Annual Plan submissions to be considered next week
Buller District Council will come together next week to consider 623 submissions on the Draft Enhanced Annual Plan 2024/25.
So far, an additional 17 submissions have been received since 20 May during the extended submission period for the proposed changes to wastewater and water rates, which runs until 4 June.
Eighty people have chosen to speak to their submissions during the three days of hearings scheduled for next week.
Mayor Jamie Cleine says: “623 submissions is the largest turnout we have seen for a consultation in recent years. The submission numbers were significantly increased by a local group that collectedContinue reading
Buller District Council will come together next week to consider 623 submissions on the Draft Enhanced Annual Plan 2024/25.
So far, an additional 17 submissions have been received since 20 May during the extended submission period for the proposed changes to wastewater and water rates, which runs until 4 June.
Eighty people have chosen to speak to their submissions during the three days of hearings scheduled for next week.
Mayor Jamie Cleine says: “623 submissions is the largest turnout we have seen for a consultation in recent years. The submission numbers were significantly increased by a local group that collected and dropped off 396 submissions.”
Our focus for the coming week will be to listen to all speakers and review the submissions so we can understand people’s concerns, suggestions and feedback.”
The two key issues for the consultation were how council would respond if Waka Kotahi—New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) does not continue to provide the current level of funding and how council will rate for drinking and wastewater in the future.
174 submitters answered the consultation question regarding funding for roading. 55% of the submitters indicated they would favour reducing the programme to match the NZTA-approved level of funding. 9% preferred that council continue with the programme already submitted, and for rates to fund any difference required for local roads, committing to higher rates for the next two rating years. The option to keep council’s level of funding as contained in the draft plan but reduce the overall programme to reflect Waka Kotahi’s level of investment was chosen by 36% of submitters.
188 submitters indicated their preference regarding the proposed changes to how council rates for drinking water. 70% opted to keep the policy on how water and wastewater targeted rates are charged the same. 30% preferred council adopting a revised policy on how water and wastewater targeted rates are charged.
Mayor Jamie Cleine highlights “It has been an enormous task to collate the submissions, analyse the data, summarise the feedback and organise the hearings.”
Councillors are aware that affordability is one of the key themes of the comments made from the community.
The Draft Enhanced Annual Plan's total general and targeted rate increase is 19.7%. This is an average, and the consultation document included information about how individual rates for certain properties would change. This number also includes the proposed water and wastewater policy change.
Mayor Jamie Cleine says, “We understand that many people feel the pressure of increased costs when paying for basic living expenses. This is expressed in many submissions. However, we have to make a decision that considers the needs of the entire community, enables us to operate in a financially sustainable way, encompasses long-term planning and recognises future generations.”
Councils across the country are facing double digit rates increases, impacted by the escalating costs that are required to deliver what our communities need, as well as shouldering the additional duties necessary to ensure compliance with central government requirements.
After the hearings, council will discuss the draft plan during the deliberations and make any necessary changes to the Draft Enhanced Annual Plan 2024/25.
The Enhanced Annual Plan 2024/25 will be adopted at the 26 June council meeting and be effective 1 July 2024.
-ENDS-
For further information, please contact:
Buller District Mayor
Jamie Cleine
Jamie.Cleine@bdc.govt.nz