Council adopts annual plan

July 1, 2005

North Shore City Council recently adopted its 2005/06 Annual Plan incorporating changes to its draft plan reflecting community feedback.

Earlier this year the council received 297 written submissions on its draft plan, with 94 heard by its hearings committee.

These views were carefully considered by councillors who recommended that a number of changes be made to the final version of the plan, which covers the financial year from July 1, 2005 to June 30, 2006.

The total average rates increase for the next 12 months will be 6.86 per cent, down from the proposed 6.99 per cent, and includes the Auckland Museum and MOTAT rates. This equates to an extra $92 per year on the average residential rates bill.

Mayor George Wood says there is increasing pressure to meet the level of service the community wants while paying for new assets and maintaining existing services in one of the faster growing parts of New Zealand.

"The community's response has reaffirmed our city's key priorities which are to improve transportation, wastewater and stormwater networks, and the acquisition and maintenance of new parks and reserves.

"This year, we're investing an additional $132m in new capital works with $70m earmarked for transport, $27m for wastewater and stormwater networks, and $28m for parks and reserves."

Changes to the plan were:

· Grant of $48,000 to Albany Village Community Arts Centre.

· Birkenhead Library construction to take place over two years, completed in 2006/07.

· Increased grant to maintain North Shore Domain - $70,000

· Increased community support grants - $75,000

· Increased community facility grants - $75,000

· Funding of $90,000 provided for audit and facilitation of the City Plan 2006-2016

· Inclusion of capital projects worth $34.4m from 2004/05 while $15m of projects from 2005/06 have been deferred to later years.

Mr Wood thanked everyone who took the time to attend meetings and make submissions on the draft Annual Plan.

ENDS

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