TRC remains in strong financial position

The Taranaki Regional Council finished the 2014/2015 financial year strongly, with a ‘pleasing’ surplus despite minimal rates rises.

The Council’s Annual Report, formally adopted by Councillors last week, shows it finished the year with a surplus of $761,000. Expenditure was $777,000 below budget while revenue was $238,000 above budget.

Chairman David MacLeod says it was a pleasing result, as general rates have been raised by around 1.5% for each of the previous two years – well below inflation levels.

“The Council’s balance sheet remains very strong with no public debt,” he says.

The year’s highlights listed in the report include:

• Preparation of the Council’s five-yearly State of the Environment Report, Taranaki as One - Taranaki Tāngata Tū Tahi, culminating in its launch in early July 2015. The report shows great environmental progress is being made.

• The continuing review of the current Freshwater and Soil Plans, with the building blocks of a new, combined Regional Freshwater and Land Management Plan now firmly in place.

• Continued progress on the Riparian Management Programme, with 378,000 native plants supplied to plan-holders in 2014/2015, taking the total to 3.9 million since the scheme began. By 30 June 2015, 83.6% of streambanks were protected by fencing and 68.5% was protected by vegetation.

• A continued enviable record for processing consent applications within statutory timeframes, with the Council achieving 100% compliance for the 15th consecutive year.

• A major, long-term commitment to farmers affected by widespread flooding and slips in June 2015, in the form of a $500,000 Storm Recovery Package.

• Increased visitor numbers at the Council’s three premier heritage properties, Pukeiti, Tupare and Hollard Gardens, and good progress in an exciting three-year redevelopment programme at Pukeiti.

• Continued growth in passenger numbers on the urban New Plymouth Citylink bus service and the Hawera-New Plymouth Connector service.

The full Annual Report 2014/2015 is available online at www.trc.govt.nz, and a summary will be published in community newspapers in October.

ENDS

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