Council seeks community feedback on Annual Plan updates

Clutha District Council would like your feedback on Annual Plan updates and proposed fees and charges for 2023/24.

The proposed annual plan signals a rates increase of 5.14%. This is above Council’s self-imposed 4% annual limit in the 2021/31 Financial Strategy and highlights the economic pressures and significant changes since the development of the strategy.

Mayor Bryan Cadogan said “Council can no longer sustain the self-imposed 4% rates cap which has been in place for a decade and while a proposed increase to 5.14% was a reality shift, our underlying determination to keep cost increases to a minimum remains. Interestingly our fiscal restraint in recent years now has us placed at seventh lowest urban rates in the country, so while the cap may have been forced up, our intent remains the same.”

“We appreciate your assistance in firstly taking an interest in the process, and secondly sharing your thoughts on how we chart our district’s best course. Clutha is on the cusp of delivering on some major projects – the results of previous annual plans,” he said.

The Annual Plan 2023/24 provides an update to the second year of the Long Term Plan 2021/31 with updated draft budgets.

Council is also seeking feedback to some proposed fees increases to some of its services, from 1 July 2023 including:

• A general 20% increase to most wheelie bin and landfill charges to meet new operating costs as a result of costs to buy required Carbon Credits.
• A new clean fill charge of $30 per tonne is proposed to cover the cost of the new Ministry for the Environment’s clean fill levy and related costs at Mount Cooee.
• An increase to charges for building and resource consent fees is proposed to meet the costs of providing these services.
• Cemetery operational costs have increased while the number of burials have decreased, so an increased fee is proposed.
• An increase is proposed for some alcohol licensing fees (Class 2 and 3 special licences) – it is proposed these will be brought in line with Sale and Supply of Alcohol Regulations.

Mayor Bryan Cadogan will be holding Soapbox Sessions throughout Clutha this weekend and invites people to come along and give him feedback on what’s proposed. Visit the events page for details www.cluthadc.govt.nz/events

The Annual Plan update document, supporting information, proposed fees and charges and an online feedback form can be found on Council’s website www.cluthadc.govt.nz/consultation, or people can visit any of Clutha’s Community Libraries.

Feedback is open until 1 May 2023. Council will consider feedback at a public meeting on 18 May 2023. It is expected that Council will adopt the final Annual Plan 2023/24 and Fees and Charges on 15 June 2023. Any changes will take effect from 1 July 2023.