Changes need to be made to the Annual Plan to avoid a rates rise blowout, and the council wants public input.

The 2023-24 Annual Plan engagement began on Friday (March 31), and Waitaki District Council chief executive Alex Parmley said when the 2021-31 Long Term Plan was prepared, inflation levels were at 1.5%.

“At that time, we forecasted a rates increase in 2023-24 of 9.3%. With inflation now over 7%, we were looking at a rates increase of 15% to deliver the same services to our community. 

“We couldn’t put that on our community, so as a result, we have looked hard at what we are doing, and we are proposing some changes to our programme of activities and finances in order to reduce the forecast rates increase to 8.06% (average).”

The council was continually focused on how it could deliver services and work better for the community, and its wellbeing, Alex said.

Feedback is wanted around a number of topics, including the Waitaki Event Centre, reducing funding for depreciation, preparing for emergencies, Maheno water, reviewing the significance and engagement policy, better community wellbeing, road safety, and Weston rates.

Additionally, Project Reclaim - the plan to remove disused rubbish dumping sites away from the coast - and other coastal concerns, reforms and transformations, were up for discussion, he said.

“We need to consider the changing needs of the Waitaki community and the reforms we are subject to.

“Over the coming year we will put considerable effort into the transformation programme and look forward to people across the district seeing the benefits of these changes.”

The district continues to see both key challenges and opportunities. Its population is changing, there is a housing issue, costs are rising, there is a skills shortage and COVID is still making an impact. Also, the climate is changing, alongside the political environment, he said.

Every local authority must work to a planning cycle beginning with a Long-Term Plan, Annual Report, and Annual Plan. The next Long-Term plan is scheduled for 2024.

Community engagement will end Sunday, April 30, and can be carried out online at https://www.waitaki.govt.nz/Council/Consultation/annual-plan-2023-24. Printed copies of the draft plan can be found at Waitaki District Council headquarters, Waihemo Service Centre, Kurow Information Centre, and Waitaki District libraries.