7 May 2004 Press release

Roads and marae funding favoured topics

Most of the submissions to the 2004/05Annual Plan, relate to roading and the proposed funding for a marae.

Out of 124 submissions received to date, 35 refer to roads, while a similar number say ‘no’ to Council funding a marae.

The latest batch of roading concerns ranges from a need for tarseal maintenance outside Oratia School to a call for footpaths at Laingholm.

Several submissions say that double tracking of railway lines is a priority. Others suggest that boy racers need a legal drag strip.

34 submissions oppose any funding for a marae for local iwi, Te Kawerau a Maki. Currently there is no funding for the project in the Draft Plan.

There was mostly favourable comment about whether the Council should contribute around $180,000 to the purchase of Kaikoura Island in the Hauraki Gulf which would be turned into a marine reserve (the Government has announced today that it will put up $10.5 million, with a short fall of $750,000 which it hopes will be met by local councils).

Other submissions ask the Council to provide more facilities for youth - more playgrounds, halls and skateparks have been requested.

Waitakere City’s 2005-2005 draft Annual Plan is open for submissions until 5pm on 13 May.

The draft Annual Plan 2004-2005 can be viewed and submissions made, online at waitakere.govt.nz. Hard copies of the plan (and copies of the submission form), are available for viewing in libraries, the New Lynn Council Service Centre, Citizens’ Advice Bureaux community centres and Waitakere City reception..

A 50 page Summary of the Annual Plan is also available.

Residents wishing to have their own copy of either the draft Annual Plan document or the Summary document, can obtain them through Waitakere City libraries or by calling the Waitakere City Council Call Centre on 839 0400.

Included in this year’s Draft Annual Plan is a rates increase of 3.97%. This is approximately $45 for the average inner residential property with a land value of $90,000. The total proposed rates is $93.5 million.

The biggest slice of rates goes to Wastewater in the inner area, (25%), with parks and roads/footpaths taking up 14.5% and 14.3 respectively. Democracy accounts for 9.0%, libraries 7.4%, stormwater 6.6% and leisure 6.6%. Other areas include: rubbish collection and disposal 4.5%; city development 3.1% and business development and promotion 2.6%.

ENDS

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