MEDIA RELEASE
March 25, 2013

Less than 3% overall rates rise for Environment Canterbury for 2013/14

Environment Canterbury’s Commissioners have approved for consultation a draft Annual Plan which proposes a total rates increase across Canterbury for 2013/14 of 2.8%, following no increase in overall rates in 2011/12 and no increase in general rates in 2012/13.

Environment Canterbury’s key commitments for the region are unchanged – progressing the Canterbury Water Management Strategy, assisting wherever possible with the rebuild of Christchurch and Canterbury after the earthquakes, and building a productive partnership with Ngāi Tahu to achieve sustainable environmental outcomes and effective iwi participation in decision-making around the management of natural resources.

“Keeping the total proposed rates increase low has been achieved through a focus on efficient, cost-effective and appropriate service provision for the region,” says Dame Margaret Bazley, Chair of Environment Canterbury’s Commissioners. “This is a lower rates increase than was proposed in the council’s ten-year Long-Term Plan released in June 2012.”

The proposed 2013/14 total rates take for the region is $81.0m, made up from targeted rates for specific purposes, and general rates. Actual rates will vary across the region depending on particular work programmes underway in particular areas, and the effect of recent property revaluations.

Thus, the overall rates increase of 2.8% is made up of an average targeted rates increase of 1.7% (from $37.6m in 2012/13 to $38.2m in 2013/14) and a general rates increase of 3.7% (from $41.3m in 2012/13 to $42.8m in 2013/14).

Recent property revaluations in some areas have affected Environment Canterbury’s rates, notably in areas close to Christchurch. Properties in Selwyn district, for example, have increased in capital value by an average of 11.1%. Because these properties have increased in value at a higher rate than Canterbury as a whole, their share of the overall rates take has increased this year.

Public consultation on the draft Annual Plan starts on March 25 and closes on April 23, 2013. Public hearings are scheduled for May in Christchurch and Timaru.

The draft Annual Plan will be available from March 25 on Environment Canterbury’s website (www.ecan.govt.nz), with hard copies available from district council offices throughout the region, or on request from Environment Canterbury’s customer services team. The final plan will be adopted, and rates struck, in June 2013.

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