At its meeting today, Hamilton City Council approved seven new projects to be included in the 2019/20 Annual Plan budget.

The Council approved the addition of a $100,000 annual grant to de-sex abandoned cats. This programme will start in 2019/20 and could see a further 1000 cats de-sexed within Hamilton City boundaries each year.

Applicants to the fund will be required to show a record of delivering an organised de-sexing programme.

Community groups also saw a $100,000 boost in the annual Single Year Community Grant fund, bringing the total to $436,000 for the 2019/20 year.

These projects were two of seven added to the 2018/19 Annual Plan (year two of the 2018-28 10-Year Plan). Other projects include:

• $150,000 for a traffic study in Greenwood St/Kahikatea Dr (undertaken jointly with NZ Transport Agency)
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• $230,000 to fund a 12 month, seven-day-a-week trial to extend City Safe to suburban Hamilton
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• $200,000 to develop an updated 20-year vision for the central city
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• $150,000 to contribute to development of a structure for swimmers/divers or vessels at Hamilton Gardens
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• $1M to respond to seismic assessments of Council buildings.

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The Council also bought forward $1.2M of social housing funding, originally earmarked for 2022-24. A decision on how to allocate this money, including being available for a community land trust, will be decided at the Council meeting on 27 June 2019.

Overall, the Annual Plan sets out $323.6M in capital spending. Other projects included in the Plan (as agreed through the 10-Year Plan) include completing the upgrade of the Pukete wastewater treatment plant and starting the upgrade of the city’s water treatment plant, ensuring this crucial infrastructure can meet the future needs of our city.

The next 12 months will also see the Council invest in stormwater pipes, wastewater upgrades and roads for the new Peacocke community as well as continued investment in our transport network, with walking and cycling paths and a rail platform at Rotokauri. A sports park at Rototuna will be completed, along with a new sportsground at Mahoe Park in Melville.

The 10-Year Plan was adopted by Council in June last year. Mayor Andrew King said the Council was on track to deliver its plans.

“We had a strong direction from our community through the 10-Year Plan process on the work we should be doing, I’m happy to say we’re on track to deliver that work. This plan is about continuing to look after what we already have, while working to achieve a city everyone can be proud of.

The Annual Plan is scheduled to be adopted on 20 June and come into effect from 1 July 2019.

The Council also today approved changes to the proposed 2019/20 Development Contributions Policy. Development Contributions are paid by developers to offset the costs to the city for the infrastructure needed for growth. Proposed changes went to public consultation in April and the proposed Policy is now scheduled for adoption on 20 June 2019 and takes effect from 1 July 2019.

For full details on the DC Policy changes see the report at www.hamilton.govt.nz/agendas

The meeting minutes, including voting details, will be available online tomorrow.

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