“ARC adopts 2000/2001 rate”

Friday June 30, 2000

Following 85 written submissions of its 2000/01 Annual Plan, the Auckland Regional Council today adopted a total regional rate of $69 million – an increase of $4 million over the previous year.

Chairman of the Council, Mr Philip Warren, said that the Council was able to incorporate a number of proposed changes that the region requested while not increasing the rate any further that it initially proposed.

“The Regional Council has been able to achieve a number of efficiencies in the past year which have resulted in a surplus for the 1999/2000 year. This surplus, along with new cost savings, will be used to fund the additional projects in Environmental Quality and Parks.”

Most of the submissions that were received called for more expenditure or more guidance. In summary, additions to the Draft Annual Plan include:
 a $27,500 allocation towards riparian management in the Wairoa Catchment;
 a $5,000 allocation for the removal of algae washed up on beaches (such as has occurred at Omana);
 a $5,000 allocation to provide information to the community on marine biology and other environmental programmes;
 funding for additional pollution control officers to increase the Council’s protection pollution control programme;
 a $6,000 allocation for the re-routing of pedestrian access at Whakanewha Regional Park;
 a $12,500 allocation for the investigation into the capacity and adequacy of the sewage disposal systems on regional parks; and
 an increase of $500,000 in the cash reserve to fund regional park purchases (to be funded from the 1999/2000 surplus).

Mr Warren said that the Council appreciated the time that individuals and groups put into their submissions and he hoped that people would continue to actively participate in Council projects.

“Initiatives that individuals and community groups undertake to make a difference to our region and environment all impact on the funding that this Council needs to call for via rates.
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For further information, contact:
Philip Warren, Chairman Auckland Regional Council, Tel. 366 2045 or
Megan Perry, Communications, Auckland Regional Council, Tel. 366 2000 extn 7135

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