Consultation opens on Draft 2023/24 Annual Plan
The Council has released its draft 2023/24 Annual Plan and now is the time for the community to have their say.
Mayor Tania Tapsell says “This is the action plan for us to achieve positive progress for Rotorua over the next year.
“Council are being proactive and refocusing spending to ensure we can deliver well on the projects and services that are absolutely necessary.”
Council will invest $141 million into key projects like beginning work on the Museum restoration, completing the Aquatic Centre upgrade and major stormwater enhancements to future-proof the district from flooding events. Of this, $43 million is proposed to replace existing major infrastructure assets that are coming to the end of their life and need to be replaced.
“Together, Councillors and I have listened to what’s important for our community and taken on board the strong desire from our locals for change.
“We’ve inherited a challenging financial position and if we didn’t change the direction of the previous Council we would have needed a rates increase of 11.95%.
“To stop the spend Council has made tough decisions to propose pausing and potentially turning off some services while we consider a more sustainable way of what Council can and should be delivering.”
The Mayor says prudent financial management is a priority for the Council who are aware of the cost of living and housing challenges the community is facing.
“To be cost effective to our community we’ve also investigated ways to increase revenue to help pay for services based on a user pays system to ease the burden on the wider ratepayers.”
Mayor Tapsell says community feedback is important before Council make a final decision.
“This is our opportunity to reset and realign Council and the organisation to focus on the future we want to achieve together with the community.”
Consultation opened today and runs until 12 May 2023 with a number of ways for people to provide feedback including online, via email and post, Facebook and verbally at information events and at hearings.
Key elements of the Draft 2023/24 Annual Plan
Council proposes refocussing spending to ensure it can deliver well on projects and services that are absolutely necessary, in a cost-effective way.
The draft plan proposes changes to council services, stopping or pausing spending in some areas and proposes increasing fees and charges to cover rising costs, increase revenue and reduce reliance on rates to pay for these services.
The 2023/24 financial year is Year 3 of the 2021-31 Long-term Plan (LTP) but proposes a number of changes to what was proposed for that year in the LTP, due to the current operating environment and challenges.
Council is consulting on those proposed changes.
The Draft Annual Plan aims to:
- Deliver measurable results against the Council priorities – economy, infrastructure, housing and community;
- Consolidate some work programmes and focus on doing the essentials well;
- Generate alternative sources of revenue, removing a reliance on rates as a source of funding for the majority of council services; and
- Demonstrate prudent financial management (rates, capital expenditure and borrowing).
The draft plan includes:
- A 7.2% rates increase (this is the average general rates increase. Increases will differ depending on property type and any targeted rates that apply to a property)
- An achievable $141m capital works programme
- Sustainable borrowing of $51m are proposed.
Projects to be progressed/completed/started:
- Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade
- Housing for Everyone – Plan Change 9 to enable more housing
- Community safety initiatives
- Museum redevelopment
- Aquatic Centre upgrades
- Introduction of organic waste collection service
- Tarawera Sewerage Scheme
- Linton Park stormwater upgrade
Proposed changes Council is consulting on:
- Increasing fees and charges, in line with inflation, for eg admission to and hiring of venues and facilities, liquor licensing, dog registration, building and resource consents and parking. This is to reflect increased costs, minimise the shortfall ratepayers currently have to cover and shift from reliance on rates to those who use/benefit most from these services.
- Reduce level of service for city beautification (reduce weeding and mowing frequency, remove inner city flower beds, remove hanging baskets in Ngongotahā).
- Reduce support for sports clubs/codes and/or attracting and supporting events.
- Pausing planned improvements at sports grounds, recreation parks, playgrounds and Whakarewarewa and Titokorangi forests.
- Deferring Kuirau Park Skate Park.
- Pausing lakes infrastructure enhancements.
- Stop museum education services provided to local and out-of-town schools.
- Stop waste education activities.
- Close Rotorua Library on Sundays.
- Reduce funding and activities relating to arts and creative communities.
- Remove funding allocation for Economic Recovery Fund.
- Seek commercial partner to help fund Sala Street Cemetery chapel upgrade.
- Stop community funding grants (Partnerships, Community Grants and Neighbourhood Matching Fund).
- Reduce roading portfolio initiatives (including for maintenance of Te Ara Ahi cycle trail, Māori roadways, shared paths).
- Reduce funding for events attraction.
Find out more about what’s in the Draft 2023/24 Annual Plan, how you can have your say and consultation events you can attend at: Te Kaunihera o ngā Roto o Rotorua Mahere ā Tau 2023/24 | Rotorua Lakes Council Annual Plan Consultation 2023/24 | Let's talk | Kōrero mai