Thursday, 3 June 2021, 4:07 pm Article: AsiaPacific Infrastructure
A
13.5% rates increase has been decided by Wellington City
councillors, who met last week to decide the funding options
for its Long-Term Plan 2021-2031.
The plan addresses
water infrastructure, supports a vibrant economy, invests in
greater iwi representation, enhances city safety and makes
civic buildings more resilient.
Strong public
participation in the consultation also informed council
funding decisions for the Pōneke Promise central city
safety campaign and greater access to our performance venues
in line with Aho-Tini 2030 Arts and Culture
Strategy.
In the seven focus areas that were consulted
on, the following decisions were made:
$2.4b
invested over 10 years to improve the Council’s
three-waters infrastructure – drinking water, wastewater
and stormwater.
Council to take ownership of the
wastewater laterals (the pipes connecting property to the
water main underneath the road corridor) between a property
boundary and the sewerage main underneath the road
corridor.
$226m for the accelerated delivery of
cycle network infrastructure.
$29.9m invested over
10 years in climate change, fully funding the Te Atakura
action plan to reduce our emissions over the next
decade.
The Municipal Office Building and Civic
Administration Building (both currently empty) in Te Ngākau
Civic Square will be demolished. The site will be developed
through a long term ground lease (subject to resource
consent) – $10.9m for demolition and $750k for resource
consent.
$197.8m to fund the repair and upgrade of
the Central Library, temporarily exceeding the council’s
debt limit
Invest in the existing wastewater
treatment plant at Moa Point to reduce the city’s
dependence on pumping sludge across to the Southern
Landfill. It will be funded through the Infrastructure
Funding and Finance Act. This means that the project is not
funded by Council debt.
Frank Kitts Park upgrade:
reinstate the $6.5m for the Frank Kitts Garden park
development, known as the Garden of
Beneficence.
Pōneke Promise: funding for the
Community Harm Reduction Programme, Take 10, rental and
fitout of a community space and streetscape
improvements.
Aho Tini 2030, Arts, Culture and
Creativity Strategy projects: $1,075,000 annually, with
$545,000 of that in the first year for venues support
(funded through the City Recovery Fund).
City
Housing upgrade programme: agreed to include $446m over 10
years including Healthy Homes and general
renewals.
Skate Parks: $1.5m investment over 10
years to upgrade skate parks.
Funding for youth
hub/spaces and improving youth
engagement.
“This ten-year budget is focussed
on core infrastructure and addressing climate change, the
rate increase is unfortunately high but necessary,”
explains Councillor Fleur Fitzsimons.
Deputy Mayor
Sarah Free says future generations can’t afford for us not
to be bold. This investment is needed to meet present and
future challenges – to have a great city fit for the
future.
The draft Long-term Plan will go to Audit NZ
for review in June and be adopted on 30
June.
