8 May 2013

Submissions close this week for HBRC Annual Plan

Hawke’s Bay residents still have time to make their submissions on Hawke’s Bay Regional Council’s draft Annual Plan before consultation closes at 5pm on Friday 10 May.

The Draft Annual Plan 2013/14 was released for public consultation in early April. Councillors have held informal meetings on the plan, and a summary was also included in HBRC’s magazine “Our Place”.

It deals with the same key issues included in last year’s Long Term Plan 2012-22 with only some minor changes being made because of factors that have changed since July 2012.

Two major projects were proposed to be deferred - the Hill Country Afforestation project (due to the low price of carbon) and the Ngaruroro Water Storage investigation (to focus resources on progressing the Ruataniwha Water Storage scheme). The transfer of Tutira properties can no longer occur because of Crown decisions in respect of a Treaty of Waitangi settlement. Also the Plan proposed a delay in HBRC’s consideration of what regulatory response may be needed to ensure the optimum regulatory regime for hydraulic fracturing in the region.

A small increase of 0.51% in total rates - over the level forecast in the Long Term Plan - is proposed because of urgently-needed repairs on the Ohuia-Whakaki and the Makara flood control schemes. The total rates increase proposed for the 2013/14 year is 4.57%. The only other movement in rates is a proposed reduction in the general rate, offset by an increase in the Emergency management rate to fund an increase in civil defence staff and operational costs.

People can download a copy of the summary or the full Draft Annual Plan from www.hbrc.govt.nz and these include guidelines on making submissions.

ENDS

© Scoop Media