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Making Auckland an even better city
21 June 2007
Making Auckland an even better city
Auckland City Council today agreed its plans for the city for the next year.
In approving the Annual Plan for 2007/2008, the council agreed to continue with the wide range of services it currently provides. It also plans to push on with major capital projects including:
* the development of the waterfront * the New Theatre Initiative to develop Q Theatre * new libraries for Otahuhu and Waiheke Island * improving the city's roads and footpaths * the redevelopment of Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki
Councillor Vern Walsh, Chairperson of the Combined Committees of council that met today, said the council was taking important steps to achieve its long-term vision.
"While we're getting on with making many positive changes in our city, there is still much more for us to do to make Auckland an even better city." The council considered a range of options to fund the priorities for the city in approving the annual plan. Some of the key funding decisions agreed today include: * new borrowings of $23.3 million over the next 12 months to more fairly fund large capital projects * extending contributions from developers to cover the costs of growth in the city * an overall rates increase of 3.6 per cent.
"We want to spread the costs more fairly between today's ratepayers and those who will benefit in the future," said Mr Walsh.
"Debt managed prudently is one way of fairly funding the things we do."
The council consulted on the draft annual plan from 20 April to 21 May 2007. More than 600 submissions were received during the plan's month-long consultation period.
The council's Finance and Corporate Business Committee also met this morning to discuss Metrowater's Statement of Intent (SOI), which sets Metrowater's business goals and focus for the coming three years. The committee decided not to revoke the approval of the SOI it gave last month.
This means there will be no change to Metrowater's previous announcement to increase charges for residential and commercial customers by 9.1 per cent from 1 July 2007.
ENDS
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