A prudent annual plan aiming to enhance Western Bay community spaces

Upgrades to key community facilities are being considered as part of Western Bay of Plenty District Council’s annual plan.

Council’s Annual Plan Committee this week deliberated over its 2023/24 draft Annual Plan with councillors agreeing to an average rate increase of 7.04 percent, bringing it down from the 7.41 percent consulted on in March-April this year.

This rate increase is achieved by finding further savings and reducing project funding by $343,359 and dipping into the General Rate Reserve - using $1.6 million. The reserve is an accumulation from surpluses arising from underspends in previous years.

Councillors also included in the draft Annual Plan:

• The prioritisation of stormwater projects as part of Council’s capital programme in light of recent weather events
• $1.9 million to install a roof, bulkhead and liner at Katikati’s Dave Hume Pool
• Loan funding $300,000 towards repairs for the Te Puke War Memorial Hall
• Re-start the concept planning for the Katikati Beach Road Boat Ramp
• $434,920 for the design through to building consent of a new Waihī Beach Library and Community Hub, subject to further review of the design.

Western Bay Mayor James Denyer says while this year’s weather events and the current difficult economic climate are at the front of everyone’s mind it is important that Council continues to invest in its communities now and into the future.

“We know everyone, not just our District, is doing it tough, but in these times of high inflation, we need to make calculated and balanced decisions that don’t simply delay a future rate increase.

“At the same time, we heard through the Annual Plan process a desire for us to continue to deliver on key projects and services. That conversation with the community will carry on through our Long Term Plan process currently underway.”

The adoption of the Annual Plan 2023/24 will take place on Wednesday 30 August. While councils across Aotearoa New Zealand traditionally adopt an Annual Plan by 30 June each year, Council can delay this process and still comply with the statutory timeframes.

This delay allows time for further consultation on Council’s financial contributions and for the property revaluation process to be completed.

Financial contributions

Since consulting on the draft financial contribution charges (financial year 2024), as part of the Annual Plan Process in March-April, we have further reviewed our charging models. Based on that review, including feedback from some developers, we have determined that the financial contribution charges need to be amended.

Further consultation on the updated draft financial contributions will run from Monday 19 June to 5pm Sunday 9 July. More information will be available via our Have Your Say page from 19 June.

We will be working with developers, stakeholders and other interested parties to step through the changes and answer any questions they have as part of this process.

Property Revaluations

At the same time, the property revaluation process requires more time for completion. This is mainly due to resourcing capacity in the valuation sector.

Western Bay must keep capital and land values of all properties in the District updated so that rates can be accurately and fairly calculated. Every council in New Zealand is required to carry out a revaluation at least every three years under the Ratings Valuations Act 1998 – with Council’s last undertaken in 2019.

The 2023 valuation process is being completed by independent valuation company Quotable Value (QV). The valuation process is audited by the Valuer-General.

Providing more time will allow QV to complete this work, release the valuations to our community and receive any objections.

Council will formally adopt its Annual Plan 2023/24 on Wednesday 30 August.

You can watch the 14 June Annual Plan Committee meeting here.