A detour ahead for Hurunui ratepayers won’t hinder Hurunui Council’s draft Annual Plan 2025/26 from maintaining momentum in roading improvements.

The draft Plan was adopted by Council at Tuesday’s meeting with a proposed increase in the general rate of 3.31% - a significant reduction from the 14.49% proposed in the draft Long Term Plan.

The proposed Annual Plan outlines Council’s priorities for the year ahead, highlighting what has changed since the Long Term Plan was adopted last year.

Council’s Chief Financial officer Jason Beck said Roading funding had accounted for a major portion of the 14.49% increase in the Long Term Plan budgets.

“When the draft Long Term Plan went out for consultation last year, it included a significantly increased roading programme that was based on anticipated subsidies from New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA),” Beck said.

“However, there has been a change of direction in funding for roading. NZTA has not provided the increase in funding that Council anticipated.”

As a result, Council has reassessed the level of roading work it can realistically fund using ratepayer funding.

The result is a roading programme that is close to the current year’s at around $13.5 million.

Beck said while this was lower than anticipated from the “ambitious” roading programme anticipated in the draft Long Term Plan, the 2025/26 proposed roading programme was greater than past funding.

Mayor Marie Black said Council was very aware of the “cumulative” impact of rates increases over the past five years.

“With that in mind, and in the context of ongoing inflationary pressure, we’ve taken a careful and considered approach to this year’s budget — balancing affordability with the need to keep delivering the services and infrastructure our communities rely on,” Mayor Marie said.

In an addition that was not signalled in the Long Term Plan, the Hurunui Community Committee is now proposing to include a sum of $500,000 in the Annual Plan 2025/26 to provide funding for potential upgrades to community facilities within the Hawarden Waikari rating area.

As part of the Annual Plan process, Council is also reviewing its Fees and Charges for the year 2025/26. Fees and Charges are the costs that Council recovers in providing specific services such as building consents, infrastructure costs, and more.

Consultation on the draft Annual Plan and Fees and Charges closes on 30 May 2025. To have your say on Council’s proposals, please go to https://www.hurunui.govt.nz/have-your-say/consultations. More information and paper submission forms can also be found at all Council’s service centres and libraries.

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