15 June 2004

Greater Wellington sets regional rates

Regional rates are to increase by 2.7%, slightly less than the 2.8% predicted in Greater Wellington Regional Council’s 2004/05 proposed annual plan.

Greater Wellington approved the overall rates and bulk water levy yesterday after consultation with the regional community.

Chairperson Margaret Shields said, “We are pleased to have been able to keep the rate increase at a modest level and to have been able to include several new projects requested by the community as part of the consultation process.”

The additional projects are: $25,000 to Go Wairarapa for public consultation associated with the Wairarapa Irrigation Investigation project; $15,000 for the Friends of Queen Elizabeth Park to fence and plant trees around Whareroa Stream; $10,000 for additional pest control work in and around the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary; and bringing forward a flood protection project to extend Chrystall’s bend stopbank, Otaki (with no impact on regional rates in 2004/05).

“Savings which have helped constrain the rate increase to 2.7% come from the Bovine Tb vector control programme, rate collection costs and lower external debt,” Cr Shields said.

“In terms of public transport, our annual plan budgets for some contribution to the cost of upgrading the passenger rail network. However, until we complete discussions with Toll Holdings and Tranz Metro we do not know how accurate our budgeting is for 2004/05 and beyond. We will seek input from the community as soon as we have a clearer picture of how this is likely to work out,” Cr Shields said.

In addition, the Council has agreed that the total bulk water levy, charged to the four metropolitan councils, will be held at last year’s level.

ENDS

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