20-Year Plan – Horowhenua prepares for growth
20-Year Plan – Horowhenua prepares for growth
Horowhenua District Council has given the go-ahead to public consultation on the 2018-2038 Long Term Plan.
Three main challenges are up for discussion as part of the Long Term Plan.
Horowhenua Mayor Michael Feyen said the plan was developed following engagement with Horowhenua residents last year.
“For the first time, we have created a 20-year plan as opposed to a 10-year plan. We’ve done this based on assumptions that our district is about to grow significantly and we need to be prepared for that growth.”
Council has created a number of options for
dealing with each challenge – you can find these in the
Consultation Document. The challenges and preferred
options:
• Challenge One: The Future of
Community Halls – Use of our halls is dropping, and many
are earthquake-prone, requiring significant investment.
Council is considering four options, and its preferred
option is to sell Foxton Memorial Hall, Shannon Memorial
Hall, Levin Memorial Hall, Foxton Coronation Hall and the
Foxton Courthouse Museum.
• Challenge Two:
Foxton Community Pool – Residents have asked for the
swimming season to be lengthened. Council is considering two
options, and its preferred option is to extend the season
from five to eight months a year.
• Challenge
Three: Providing new drinking water and wastewater
infrastructure to our growing settlements of Waitārere
Beach, Ōhau, Manakau, Waikawa Beach and Hōkio Beach –
Council is considering three options, and its preferred
option is to do this work over a 20-year
period.
Alongside this are two topics that Council is
keen to hear residents’ opinions on:
• Shannon
Community Hub – Is there a need for a community space that
provides for more activities than just a hall or a library
– perhaps a safe space for teens to hang out or clubs and
community groups to meet?
• Water sustainability
– Currently Horowhenua residents use more water than the
national average, so Council is organising the installation
of pressure-reducing valves, introducing monitoring, and
fixing leaks. Should Council introduce water meters, as has
occurred in many other parts of the country?
The Long
Term Plan proposes an average rates increase of 6.53% –
that’s 0.38% higher than anticipated in the last Long Term
Plan. There are two major reasons for this:
•
Council’s infrastructure underwent a revaluation process,
and this led to a $1.3 million increase in the predicted
cost of funding renewals.
• Te Awahou Nieuwe
Stroom is a fabulous asset for our community, and it comes
with an increased operational cost for Council of
$470,000.
The proposal would increase the average cost of rates from $6.24 per day to $6.65 per day.
Mayor Feyen said the increase is significantly higher than he’d like, and it will undoubtedly be difficult for those on fixed incomes.
“We as a Council must work much harder and more effectively towards reducing future rates increases,” he said.
Horowhenua District Council Chief Executive David Clapperton said the increase is necessary if Council is to provide for the community, and meet the needs and expectations of current and future residents.
In the last financial year, Council recorded a surplus. However, this was as a result of the recognition of asset revaluation gains. In fact Council had an operational deficit and is predicting a further three years of operational deficits before returning to surpluses in the long term.
As part of the 2018-38 Long Term Plan, Council is proposing to lift its debt limit in order to fund growth. Currently, Council’s debt limit is 175% of income, and the Local Government Funding Agency dictates that the most Council can borrow is 250%. Council is proposing to lift its debt limit to 195%.
Council Chief Financial Officer Doug Law said the proposed increase is well inside the recommended levels.
“We’ve taken a prudent approach to ensure we are able to cope if a natural disaster strikes,” he said.
“While no-one likes debt, it is a cost that most households have to juggle to provide for the needs of the family. In the case of Council, our community is growing and we need to provide for that.”
Alongside the 2018-2038
Long Term Plan, Council is also consulting on:
•
Horowhenua Growth Strategy, which will identify future
growth areas for development across the district.
•
Earthquake Prone Buildings – Priority Thoroughfares, which
will identify areas of Horowhenua that have enough
pedestrian or vehicular traffic to be designated as priority
areas under the Building (Earthquake-prone Buildings)
Amendment Act 2016.
• Waste Management
Minimisation Plan, which considers ways to reduce waste to
landfill.
At the same time, the NZ Transport Agency is
consulting on the proposed Ōtaki to North of Levin
Expressway.
And in the next few months Council will also consult on the Levin Town Centre Strategy.
Mayor Feyen says 2018 is a significant year in determining the future of our communities and district.
“It’s important everyone gets involved and has their say so that Council can take their views into consideration when making the final decisions.”
Have your say
The 2018-2038 Long Term Plan Consultation Document can be found on the Have Your Say section of Council’s website, www.horowhenua.govt.nz, or visit Council’s customer service centres to view a hard copy.
The consultation period begins on Friday 23
February, 2018.
Planned outdoor public engagement
activities (subject to weather):
• Saturday 24
February at the Levin Aquatic Centre
• Saturday
3 March at the Shannon BBQ in Te Maire Park
•
Saturday 10 March at the Foxton Beach Summer Market
•
Saturday 17 March at the Ōhau Market
Submissions close
Monday 26 March,
2018.
ENDS