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No Community Say On Ashburton’s Annual Plan
It’s a case of close enough and carry on in Mid Canterbury.
Ashburton District councillors voted on Wednesday that the 2024/24 draft annual plan doesn’t need to go out for public consultation before it is adopted.
Ashburton Mayor Neil Brown said the annual plan aligns with what was laid out last year in the long-term plan (LTP) for year two, so there was no reason to consult the community again.
The annual plan is reasonably close to the LTP, “if not even better” with a rate increase of 7.3% rather than the 10.1% forecast in the long-term plan, he said.
“It’s still higher than inflation, and we are aware of that, but this is the best plan we have got going forward to holding levels of service.”
Councillor Richard Wilson wanted clarity around why there would be no public consultation when there is a potential change in cost for the community for the connecting roads to Ashburton’s second bridge on the horizon.
Democracy and engagement general manager Toni Durham said the plan is only for 2025/26, and anything beyond that – like the bridge road funding - is a future conversation to have with the community.
Holding an annual plan consultation costs around $20,000, Durham said.
The details of the annual plan will be circulated to the community once the plan is adopted, which will occur by June 18 at the latest.
The key differences in the 2025/26 Annual Plan include removing the planned upgrade to Robilliard Park, a 5% increase to the drinking water rate (from $706.10 in 2024/25 to $741.50 in 2025/26), and deferring a stormwater project to 2026/27.
The roading budget required a realignment to the reduced NZTA funding, but retains an additional $3 million of unsubsidised council funding.
It also has the use of reserves to fund some open spaces projects rather than loan funding.
Local Democracy Reporting
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