Media Release

01 October 2018

Charting a Fresh Start – Kaipara District Annual Report released

Exciting projects, a by-election and extreme weather are just some of the things highlighted in Kaipara District Council’s Annual Report 2017/2018 which was adopted at the Council meeting Thursday 27 September 2018.

Highlights include steady and continuing debt reduction, community development and consulting on and setting a plan in motion for the next decade through the 2018/2028 Long Term Plan. The year saw consistently high numbers of building development, with a population growth of 2.4%, alongside a large rise in resource consents which has meant increased income from consents as well as increased income from development contributions. Resource consents have risen from 263 in 2015 to 508 in 2018.

A big part of Council’s yearly spend included capital projects, our Roading team achieved a spend of $21.6m of a $23.1m budget. Other large capital projects included watermain renewals, waste water reticulation extensions, new floodgates in the Raupo district and community supported projects in the form of picnic tables, shade sails and new paths along the Wairoa River at the Dargaville water front.

“This Annual Report now marks a clear moment and a return to business-as-usual, though one highlighted with some very unusual and extraordinary events.” Kaipara District Mayor Dr Jason Smith said, “After nearly a decade of a rocking boat, it seems now that things are more plain sailing and rapidly progressing towards being ship-shape. That’s what you should see in the pages of the Annual Report 2017/18 for Kaipara District Council. It charts the end of a turnaround in fortunes for Kaipara District Council. It also signals the start of a new, more stable and healthy time filled with all the abundant wellbeing promise of ‘Kaipara te oranganui’. This is how you chart our fresh start.”

“Council’s audit report states that it has fairly presented the information required in its Annual Report for the year ended 30 June 2018 and a particular highlight from a financial perspective is the level of Council’s external debt which has reduced to $46m from $62m in the prior year.” Said Peter Gulliver of Deloitte, who undertakes the audit of Council’s Annual Report on behalf of the Auditor General.

“Kaipara District Council has strived to meet community expectations and end the year in a positive position” said Kaipara District Chief Executive Louise Miller. “Internally there is a desire for improvement, to better our relationship with customers, and to provide the things our communities need to thrive. The change we have gone through in the last year has solidified our commitment to the district, and we look forward to the year ahead.”

The Annual Report 2017/18 is available on the Kaipara District website.

ENDS

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