24 April, 2014

Trams a hot issue in Council’s Draft Annual Plan

A call to extend the tramway features highly in submissions on Christchurch City Council’s Draft Annual Plan.

By the 22 April closing date the Council had received 445 submissions with a few more expected to arrive by post over the next few days.

Just under a quarter of submissions supported the Council funding an extension to the tramway tocomplete a second loop along Oxford Terrace, City Mall, High and Colombo streets to Cathedral Square.

Council Finance Committee Chairman Raf Manji says it is very pleasing to see residents taking the opportunity to have a say over how the Council spends its annual budget.

“It’s a difficult balancing act. We have to be responsible about how we spend ratepayers money and we’ll carefully consider what people have told us in their submissions.”

More than 100 submissions were received about proposals to extend work on 13 major cycleways over eight years instead of five, and to reduce opening hours at Recreation and Sport Centres.

Public hearings of Draft Annual Plan submissions will be held on 14,15 16 and 19 May.

The Council will meet in late June to consider all the feedback and adopt the final Annual Plan which is aiming for a 6.5 per cent rates increase.

ENDS

© Scoop Media