3 March 2016

Media Release

The Year Ahead for Tasman Revealed in Annual Plan

Total rates income increase of 1%

Total rates rise of less than $1 a week for 86% of ratepayers

Debt $12 million Less than Forecast

Same Levels of Service

Progress on Queen Street upgrade; Golden Bay Community Facility; Stormwater, wastewater and water supply upgrades.

The Tasman District Council has released its plan for the coming year, which includes a total rates income increase of 1% and progress on major projects such as flood protection works for central Richmond and construction of the Golden Bay Recreation Facility.

Tasman Mayor Richard Kempthorne said the Council’s Annual Plan for 2016/17 contained positive news for Tasman residents. Rates for 86% of property owners would go up by less than $1 a week, and a further 12% would see an increase of less than $2 a week.

“The community asked us to limit rate increases, reduce reliance on debt and continue to provide the same levels of service. We made some big changes in order to deliver that and now we’re seeing the benefits.”

Mayor Kempthorne said the Annual Plan remained true to the Long Term Plan for 2015-2025 that the Council committed to last year after extensive community consultation.

“We’re not deviating from the commitments we made to the community during that process.

“New legislation means that because we haven’t made any significant changes to our plans for 2016/17, we aren’t required to formally consult on the Annual Plan – so people may notice some differences to the way we prepare and adopt the plan compared with other years.”

Mayor Kempthorne said councillors and staff would be out and about around the District between now and mid-April to talk to communities about the plan.

“We’ll be talking about the facilities and services residents can expect us to provide, our priorities for spending and the new Annual Plan process. We are keen to hear what people think and what they want us to consider for future plans and work programmes.

“This year we’ll also be continuing work on the Waimea Community Dam, focussing on meeting the funding challenges of the project before we begin formal public consultation. Another major project is the proposed joint regional landfill with Nelson City Council, so we’ll be talking to people about that proposal over the next month or so as well.”

Details of community meetings and events to learn more about the Annual Plan will be available on the Council’s website from 11 March, tasman.govt.nz.

The Numbers

The Tasman District Council’s Annual Plan for 2016/17:

1% - Rates income increase (down from a forecast 2.96%)

$1 – The maximum total weekly rates increase for most properties

$166.4 million - Net Council debt (down from a forecast $178m)

$32.5 million – Capital expenditure

$105.9 million – Operating expenditure

$111.6 million – Total Income

48,292 – Tasman’s projected population (up from 47,898 in 2015) based on 2013 Census figures.

ENDS

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