Media Release

Councillors adopted Environment Southland’s Long-term Plan 2015-2025 at this morning’s extraordinary meeting of council.

Changes agreed to by council at a meeting on 19 June, where submissions were heard first, have been incorporated into the Long-term Plan.

They include the use of $1 million of unexpected surplus funds to reduce rates over the next three years; and a change in the way the Oreti river rating district is rated, which will impact the general rate.An overview of these changes and others is in the news section on our website.

The final figures for overall rates’ increases differ from those originally forecast in the Long-term Plan consultation document, Southland’s Big 3. Overall rates’ increases will be: 6.48% in 2015/16 (down from 7.74); 5.40% in 2016/17 (down from 6.42%); 6.64% in 2017/18 (up from 4.85%).

There was general support from submitters for Environment Southland strategic direction and its focus on the ‘big three’: managing water quality and quantity; air quality; and an increased focus on biodiversity.

Environment Southland Chairman said it had been a good process and that submitters input had been valuable to the council’s decision making and resulted in positive changes.

The Long-term Plan is available online at www.es.govt or from our offices on North Road, Invercargill

ENDS

30/6/2015

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