You Are Here : Home / Our Council/ Plans and Reports / Long Term Plans / Long Term Plan 2024-2034

Long Term Plan 2024-2034

Our Council has committed to investing $744.7 million in roading, water services, coastal protection and other essential assets, facilities and services in the Coromandel over the next 10 years.

At their meeting on Thursday 27 June, our Council adopted its 2024-2034 Long Term Plan (LTP), locking in our district’s budgets, projects and services over the coming decade, and adopting our key strategic and policy documents, and our 2025/25 Schedule of Fees and Charges.

You can view the final 2024-2034 LTP here. The Plan was officially approved by the auditors on Monday 1 July.

“This is a huge milestone, and one we can all be proud of,” says our Mayor Len Salt. “A huge thank you to everyone who took time to share their thoughts, support and concerns with us during the feedback process.

“There were many great ideas and strong proposals and ideally, we’d be able to financially support them all. We’ve decided to add a small number of projects to our original proposals, but we’ve also looked at what we can remove from the first year of our plan to offset that.”

What are the major challenges ahead?

To address the important issues, we’ve had to prioritise the essentials.

This LTP addresses problems that are also being faced around the country and overseas. It includes things like maintaining and investing more on ageing infrastructure, including vulnerable roading networks - as well as dealing with the impacts of climate change. That’s while also trying to build resilience and prevent social isolation.

This work involves some big and costly projects that are critical for our communities - and just can’t be deferred to the future.

That’s why we’ve had to make the tough decision not to include many important, but optional, projects and requests.

We don’t want to have to increase rates more than we absolutely have to, or over-promise on what we can afford to deliver.

What are my rates for the 2024/25 financial year?

As a result of adding some projects to our plan, our forecast rates are increasing slightly more than we originally proposed over the next 10 years. Our average total rates increase for the first financial year of this LTP (2024/25) has increased to 13.2 per cent from the 12.9 per cent we proposed in our consultation document. On average, rates will increase by $509 a year – that’s just under $10 extra per week.

This is just an average, and increases will vary, depending on where you live, the type and value of your property, and the services you receive.

From mid-July onwards, you’ll be able to visit our website and check your individual property rates using our Online Rating Information Database. Some of our ratepayers on low incomes may also be eligible for a rates rebate discount.

Key works projects around our district

The largest portion of spending on physical works (known as capex) has been provided for roading, with $245.4 million budgeted over the next 10 years to repair and improve our roads. We’ve also budgeted $92.7 million coastal protection works around the district over the coming decade. To date, we’ve spent a lot on major infrastructure projects on the Eastern Seaboard and in the next 10 years we will see a greater focus on the Western Seaboard. You can view all the works projects we've committed to deliver in Part 2 of the 2024-2034 Long Term Plan, where they a divided into 'activity' groupings.

Click here to see some of the projects ahead for our communities

Whangamatā Stormwater improvement: $9.2 million from 2024/25 to 2029/30.
Whangamatā Hetherington Road Rising Main: $2.5 million from 2024/25 to 2029/30
Whitianga Refuse Station: $11.5 million from 2024/25 to 2025/26.
Whitianga Esplanade waterfront redevelopment: $12.5 million from 2027/28 to 2029/30.
Pāuanui additional treated water reservoir: $1.6 million from 2027/28 to 2029/30.
Pāuanui wastewater treatment plant odour control: $2 million in 2024/25.
Tairua Esplanade renewal: $259,000 in 2027/28.
Hāhei wastewater extension: $3.3 million from 2027/28 to 2033/34.
Matarangi Treatment Plant upgrade: $22 million from 2024/25 to 2030/31.
Coromandel Wharf renewal: $5.3 million in 2028/29.
Coromandel Bypass: $37.2 million from 2026/27 to 2028/29. This is fully funded by Crown Infrastructure.
Thames coastal protection: $78.2 million from 2027/28 to 2030/31. Funding is still being tied down for this project, and we’ll focus on seeking funding from external sources.
Thames South water improvements and Pūriri water treatment plant: $19.5 million from 2024/25 to 2027/28.
Thames Aquatic Facility: $39.9 million from 2024/25 to 2028/29.

What key decisions did we make on our ‘big five’ proposals in our consultation document?

Key Decision One – Managing the rates spike

We’ve looked at ways we can ease the rates increase in the first year. Our Council decided to proceed with its preferred option 2 – to spread the rates increases over two years.

Key Decision Two – Investing in future planning

We asked whether we should invest more money so we can proactively and strategically invest in planning programmes to manage our district’s growth effectively. Our Council decided to proceed with its preferred option 1 – to invest more in proactive planning for the future.

Key Decision Three – Investing in Connected Communities

After the impact of last year’s cyclones and weather events, we asked if we should invest more to ensure our communities are connected and resilient. Our Council decided to proceed with its preferred option 2 – to carry on the work it started through the cyclone recovery programme but funding it ourselves through rates from year 2 (July 2025 onwards).

Key Decision Four – Increasing fees and charges to keep rates manageable

We proposed to increase fees to keep up with our other rising costs, including inflation. Our Council decided to proceed with its preferred option 1 – to increase its revenue from fees and charges by 3% overall.

Key Decision Five – The future of the Thames Council building

Our main Council offices in Thames don’t meet current health, safety and earthquake standards for staff and visitors who use them. We decided to investigate a leasehold arrangement based on public feedback we received – an option that wasn’t included in the proposals in our draft LTP. We’ll report back on our investigations by December 2024, and defer a final decision on the future of our Thames Council offices until then.

Fees & Charges

Increases for dog registration fees and other health licences have already been put into effect and people notified in writing.
On 1 July 2024, boat ramp pass fees will increase $2 per day for boat launching only, and $3 per day for the Boat Launching and Parking combo. The Annual Pass Boat launching only pass fee increases to $50. There is no change to the Annual Pass Boat launching and parking combo rate of $115 per year.

More information

View the final 2024-2034 LTP here
View our 2024/25 Schedule of Fees and Charges here
Read about cost pressures and rising infrastructure costs faced by councils around Aotearoa New Zealand
View the written feedback from the LTP hearings here.

View our previous updates

Our formal consultation for our Long Term Plan (LTP) proposals closed on Monday 8 April. You can still view this page here.

We've prepared our draft long term plans and budgets for 2024-2034 and beyond, and from 8 March to 8 April we asked for your take on our proposals. There are some big challenges ahead for the Coromandel and we wanted to hear your thoughts on how we tackle them.

We received 349 items of written feedback during the consultation period - 235 of these were from individuals; 113 were made on behalf of organisations.You can see the written feedback we received here: 2024-34 Long Term Plan - Hearing Pack.

People who asked to present their views in person to our elected members were able to speak to their responses at our hearings meetings held on 1 and 2 May 2024.

You can still read our consultation document ‘Tackling the Future Head on: What’s your take?’ It sets out the key things you need to know, including our long-term proposals and budget forecasts for the next 10 years and beyond. If you still have questions, check out the ‘Supporting information’ section below for more in-depth information, and be sure to read our Frequently Asked Questions document.

What's next for our LTP?

LTP budgets are currently being revised to determine any impact on the rates and to set the final rates for the 2024/25 financial year
Our draft LTP began its formal, independent audit process on 6 June 2024. any revisions resulting from the audit process will be taken into account prior to adopting the Plan
Our final LTP is scheduled to be adopted on 27 June
After the Plan is adopted, we’ll share the final LTP document and key decisions on this website page.

What happened at our LTP deliberations?

Our elected members met over 21 May and 22 May to deliberate on public feedback from our Long Term Plan (LTP) formal consultation period.

Our Councillors and Mayor Len Salt made some final decisions on the five key issues we consulted on as they sought to balance keeping rates affordable and including some of the key works projects that our communities asked for.

What was decided?

Key Decision 1 – Managing the rates spike: Our Council decided to proceed with its preferred option 2 – to spread the rates increases over two years.
Key Decision 2 – Investing in future planning: Our Council decided to proceed with its preferred option 1 – to invest more in proactive planning for the future.
Key Decision 3 – Investing in Connected Communities: Our Council decided to proceed with its preferred option 2 – to carry on the work it started through the cyclone recovery programme but funding it ourselves through rates from year 2 (July 2025 onwards). We also resolved that staff should focus on securing more external funding to enable community-led development and to enhance Council’s role as a community facilitator.
Key Decision 4 – Increasing fees and charges to keep rates manageable: Our Council decided to proceed with its preferred option 1 – to increase its revenue from fees and charges by 3 per cent overall.
Key Decision 5 – The future of the Thames Council buildings: Our Council decided to do further investigation on a leasehold arrangement as a result of public feedback our Council received from the LTP consultation. This option wasn’t included in the proposals for our consultation document, Tackling the Future Heads On: What’s Your Take? Our Council will investigate a new site for the Thames council offices, including an independent assessment, to understand the risks of remaining in the current buildings. Staff will report back on their investigations by December 2024 and a final decision on the future of our Thames Council offices will be deferred until then.

Other key highlights

In respect of key decision 5, option 1, our Council resolved to investigate a new site for the Thames council offices, including an independent assessment, to understand the risks of remaining in the current buildings. Staff will report back on their investigations by December 2024 and a final decision on the future of our Thames Council offices will be deferred until then.
An additional $1.3 million of capital expenditure was included in the LTP Roading activity budget for Year 1 (2024/25) for the Thornton Bay Slip stabilisation project. The work is 100% funded as a storm recovery project, but our Council will need to include funding for depreciation costs in its budgets.
Additional operational budget was included in the LTP wastewater and water supply activities in Year 1 (2024/25) and Year 2 (2025/26) to carry out community consultation in relation to the extension of the Wharakeho and Hahei wastewater and water supply networks.
An additional $2,173,617 of capital expenditure was included in the LTP Rubbish and Recycling activity over the next two years to provide for the replacement of the current Whitianga Refuse and Recycling Transfer Station.

Stay up to date:

Watch the recordings of our deliberations meetings on our Y ouTube channel
Download the deliberations agenda and deliberations meeting packet from our website
Read the LGNZ report by Infometrics that sets out cost pressures and rising infrastructure costs that local councils are facing.

What is a LTP?

The LTP is a key planning document that we develop every three years. It outlines all the things our Council does and how they fit together. It contains the strategic direction for Council’s finances and infrastructure, identifies what projects we plan to do over the next 10 years and beyond, and what we estimate it will cost to pay for them. The Plan also sets the rates for the 2024/24 financial year, and forecasts indicative rates for the coming decade.

As a Council, we've asked for the participation and feedback of our staff, elected members, iwi and other partners including government agencies, ratepayers and local communities, as we continue to move through the process of developing our final LTP, which we'll be adopting in late June.

What are the challenges ahead?

Like many councils around Aotearoa New Zealand, we’ve got some big challenges ahead, but we’re tackling them head on:

A large roading repair and improvement programme to fix damage done by last year’s cyclones
Costly coastal protection works to mitigate the impact of rising sea levels
Ageing infrastructure (like water treatment plants) that must be replaced
The rising cost of living and high inflation
Higher government compliance standards that cost more to meet
A shortage of affordable housing.

If you'd like to know more, watch our Chief Executive Aileen Lawrie and Mayor Len Salt as they discuss some of the key issues impacting our planning for facilities and services.

What are our main priorities for this LTP?

We’re prioritising the resilience of our district in our budgets and planning. We’re focusing on building strong foundations to continue the recovery from the extreme weather events of last year, and building resilience into the infrastructure and facilities our Council provides, and enabling recovery and resilience within our communities. We've made some provision in our proposed long-term budgets for roading repairs and improvements, moderating the effects of climate change, helping our communities to become more resilient, and managing our economic growth.

How did we use your LTP consultation feedback?

While we are required by law to indicate a preferred option for the big issues that we’re asking for feedback on, we do have flexibility to consider changes based on your feedback. All the feedback you provided during the LTP consultation period was noted by our teams, and considered during the LTP deliberations on 21 and 22 May. Your feedback helped to inform the final decisions our elected members made about our LTP, which is scheduled to be adopted on 27 June. As part of an open and transparent consultation process, all feedback is treated as public once received.