24 June 2015

Tourism wins with HBRC Long Term Plan

Hawke’s Bay Regional Council today adopted its Long Term Plan for 2015-25, confirming a total average rate increase of 5.87% for the 2015-16 year.

The key programmes and activities named in April’s draft plan indicated a rate increase of 3.95%. However strong commitment to tourism from the community and sector groups pushed for more funding dedicated to tourism and consequently a higher increase.

For all households and rural properties, this will mean an increase in the economic development rate of $3.75 per property in 2015-16.

The decision to back a 5.87% total average rate increase was supported by five of nine Councillors, and successfully carried. It followed lengthy debate on this item by Councillors for and against the size of the overall increase, totalling $919,000.

Council considerations during the three days of hearings on 8, 9 and 10 June factored in a range of requests for additional funding for HBRC programme enhancements, from community groups, commercial interests, sector, government and individuals.

While concerned at the level of the overall rates increase, Fenton Wilson, chairman of Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, is supportive of the outcomes council is working to balance.

“We went into this process with a lower rate increase in mind, but have been mindful of delivering what the community want,” he comments.

“We repeatedly hear how much tourism adds to the GDP (gross domestic product) of Hawke’s Bay, being second only to our primary industry.”

“I am confident that with a strong focus on HBRC’s core environmental, social and economic development work, including support for a high-performing tourism sector, we can help make this region more prosperous,” adds Councillor Wilson.

Other programmes proposed to benefit from funding include environmental management and monitoring, biodiversity, pest control, regional parks, land management and emergency management.

HBRC’s Long Term Plan adoption provides a mandatory tourism increase of $300,000 for 2015-16, with indicative additional tourism increases of $300,000 in years 2 and 3 of this planning round.

The spread of the rate increase is an average of 5.73% for urban ratepayers, 6.85% for rural ratepayers and 10.77% for commercial ratepayers. Rate increases of 5.69% and 5.51% are indicated for the 2016-17 and 2017-18 financial years.

ends

© Scoop Media