Zero average rates increase proposed

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Date:
Apr 14, 2014

For the second year in a row, Queenstown Lakes District Council is proposing an average zero increase in rates.

The Council will adopt its Draft Annual Plan and budget on Thursday, beginning a one-month period of community consultation.

Mayor Vanessa van Uden said Councillors and staff had worked hard to put together an annual programme that would deliver services efficiently at least cost. “We have bedded in the new staff structure created from our organisational review last year and ratepayers will be reaping the benefits of a lean structure, focused on delivering our core services.”

This year’s plan highlights seven major issues that all involve significant decisions that the Council will make after consultation with the community:

  • A convention centre for Queenstown
  • A new sports facility for Wanaka
  • Library services
  • Water metering as a tool for managing demand
  • Debt levels
  • Community preferences for consultation
  • Improved ways to measure Council performance

A summary of the Draft Annual Plan will be available on the Council’s website when consultation begins on 19 April, and will also be published in The Mirror and Wanaka Sun community newspapers at the end of the month. There will be a link to an on-line submissions form, making it simple for people to select which issues they want to make comment on, and also offering the chance to give feedback on other topics.

“People aren’t restricted to commenting on what is in the plan,” Mayor van Uden said. “If there are projects or issues that we haven’t included that people think should be there, we’d like to hear about them. My main message for this year is to get involved and have your say.”

Submissions will close on 19 May.

The Draft Annual Plan is on the Council’s website as part of the agenda items for discussion at Thursday’s Council meeting: http://www.qldc.govt.nz/full_council_agendas/category/1234/

 

Submit on the 2014-15 Annual Plan

View Summary of Draft Annual Plan 2014-2015 (PDF, 1.9MB)

View Draft Annual Plan 2014-2015 (PDF, 1.35MB)

By: QLDC