Environment Canterbury’s proposed rates for Selwyn District 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).

However, 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%. Factors that influence valuations include demand, amenity value, supply and population growth. 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.

Combining this with the proposed 3.7% increase in general rates, the average proposed general rates increase for 2013/14 for Selwyn properties is around 12.6%, including the Uniform Annual General Charge.

On an example property in Lincoln, with a current capital value of $395,000, a proposed general rates increase of 14% works out at $16.38 per year, or $1.37 a month.

Environment Canterbury is also proposing increases in targeted rates to enable additional provision of services to ratepayers in Selwyn.

In Lincoln, for example, an increase in targeted rate is proposed for Passenger Services. In the 2011/12 Annual Plan it was approved that the funding mix for transport would shift over time from a 90% Christchurch/10% Selwyn split to a 50%/50% split. This progression was continued through the Long-Term Plan, and 2013/14 is the first year that the split is to be 50%/50%. The reason for this more equitable split is that patronage is now similar in both directions, with Lincoln people travelling to Christchurch as well as vice versa. This proposed targeted rate increase amounts to around $33 per year, for the example property described above.

In Leeston an increase in targeted rate is proposed to contribute to the work of the Ellesmere Vehicle Trust in providing bus services for transport-disadvantaged people. The Trust has already raised around $40,000 as part of their set-up and their request is for a grant of $13,000 ($8,000 operating and $5,000 vehicle replacement. 60% of their work is funded by the New Zealand Transport Authority. The effect of this targeted rate on an example Leeston property with a capital value of $290,000 is around $6 per year.

An increase in targeted rate is also proposed for properties near Lake Ellesmere/Te Waihora, to cover improved management of the lake, including a wider range of environmental and cultural considerations around opening the lake to the sea. This increase has the support of residents in the area, through the local rating liaison committee.

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.

© Scoop Media