NRC’s Annual Plan Finalised

Extra spending on water quality work and to potentially unlock some of the region’s mineral wealth are among new initiatives in the Northland Regional Council’s freshly-adopted Annual Plan.

The Annual Plan 2010/11 was formally adopted by Regional Councillors in Whangarei yesterday (subs: Weds 16 June) and comes after two days of public submissions at Whangarei late last month.

Council Chairman Mark Farnsworth says the Council received more than 500 submissions on its plans for the next 12 months, which largely follow a path set out last year when the Council adopted its Northland Community Plan for 2009-2019.

However, as a result of public submissions Councillors had agreed to a number of Annual Plan changes, including dropping a proposal to contribute $135,000 to help fund Rugby World Cup regional coordination.

“This proposal will no longer be funded from this year’s rates and will be referred to Regional Economic Development Agency Enterprise Northland for its consideration instead.”

Mr Farnsworth says in a similar vein, the proposed budget for Council’s Regional Growth Programme will be cut by $100,000 (from $450,795 to $350,795).

However, plans to spend $113,000 on water quality initiatives and $135,000 on a mangrove removal and sediment management programme will go ahead after strong public support.

“Following submissions, Council will also contribute $113,000 from its reserves towards a joint study looking at the possibility of unlocking some of the region’s mineral wealth.”

Mr Farnsworth says paying for the various initiatives set out in the Annual Plan over the next 12 months will see the average Regional Council rates bill increase by about $13.90 (plus GST at the prevailing rate) this year.

He says overall, the Council proposes to collect $13.2M (excluding GST) in total rates revenue across more than 85,000 properties Northland-wide. Returns from investments, fees and charges will account for balance of the Council’s expected $25.1 million (GST-exclusive) income for the 12 months from July 01.

Meanwhile, Mr Farnsworth says submitters to the Annual Plan also raised the possibility of Council involvement in a proposed multimillion dollar cancer treatment unit to be located in Whangarei. (Known as ‘Project Promise’, fundraising for this unit is already underway and is being co-ordinated by the Northland Community Foundation.)

He says while the Regional Council will not contribute any funding via its Annual Plan, Council and staff will be looking at how - and to what extent - the Council could potentially support Project Promise if the public indicated a willingness to do so.

“We’ll prepare a Statement of Proposal in the next few months to submit to the community as a separate consultation exercise to gauge public support for the Council's possible future involvement.”

Mr Farnsworth says the Council will also develop a new Regional Policy Statement, which will provide a broad direction and framework for managing Northland’s natural and physical resources.

It will also continue work on the development, or updating, of flood risk reduction plans for the 27 rivers in Northland carrying the highest levels of flood risk.

Copies of the adopted Plan will be available early next month from all Regional Council offices, by phoning (0800) 002 004 or visiting the Council’s website www.nrc.govt.nz/annualplan

ENDS

© Scoop Media