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Rates increase lower than projected

Significant investment in transport and community facilities as a result of public submissions will see the Queenstown Lakes District Council consider an overall rates increase of 2.99% on Thursday when it confirms the 2016-17 Annual Plan.

Mayor Vanessa van Uden said submissions on proposed services and projects put forward in the draft Annual Plan had influenced the Council to revise its intentions in several areas.

“We are looking to confirm our commitment to allocate $420,000 to fast track a business case for the first stage of Inner Links (Melbourne to Henry St) transport project to relieve pressure on Stanley and Shotover streets, and to investigate a long-term parking building on the periphery of central Queenstown.

“We are investing almost half a million dollars in community facilities, including improvements to the A&P Showgrounds in Wanaka and the Queenstown Memorial Centre.” [corrected]

Community investment includes bringing forward funding for improvements to the turf and drainage at the Queenstown Events Centre, so that the Oval is upgraded in the next 12 months rather than in 2017-18.

Mayor van Uden said the Oval’s surface conditions and drainage were limiting its usability for community sports activities. A secondary benefit was that the upgrade would meet new standards for national and international fixtures. “This is first and foremost about investing in our community. We see the advantage of attracting the occasional international game as a bonus,” she said.

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The Mayor said the Council was also proposing to allocate over $300,000 to economic development in the district with a shot in the arm for the Otago Southland Film Office and funding for The Cube in Wanaka. The Council will be working with stakeholders on an agreed framework to implement its recent Economic Development Strategy.

After considering submissions, the Council has moved away from the idea of contributing to move power lines along the Ladies Mile underground. Instead, it is proposing to allocate $10,000 a year for two years to prune the roadside trees.

Mayor van Uden said the long-term future of the Ladies Mile area, including the trees, would be addressed through the master planning QLDC would be undertaking to address the increased development demand highlighted through the District Plan review process and the government’s Special Housing Areas programme.

Hawthorne Drive (previously called the Eastern Access Road) remains on track for completion in December 2017, with some of the funding for it and other roading projects being moved to 2017-18 so that Council spending is aligned with NZTA’s budgets.

Subject to confirmation at Thursday’s meeting, the Council will shelve a proposal that would have increased rates on undeveloped farmland zoned for residential development. Mayor van Uden said the Council had listened to submissions from landowners, who had signalled they wanted to work together to encourage development.

The Council is, however, likely to go ahead with its proposal to reduce rates on residential flats, in an effort to encourage affordable housing.

If the recommendations as outlined are confirmed on Thursday, there will be an average 2.99 percent increase in rates, which is lower than the 2016/17 amount projected last year in the 10 Year Plan.

The rating impact will vary across the district, as some projects and activities are funded within wards.

A full list of proposed changes is included in the report which is in the Council agenda online here.

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