Long term projects and budgets tackle our future head on
Published on 08 March 2024
Now’s the time to give us your feedback on the projects and budgets we’re proposing for the next 10 years and beyond. The formal consultation phase of our 2024-2034 Long Term Plan starts today and runs through to Monday 8 April.
This time around, our Council is proposing a ‘just the essentials’ budget for our future planning, that will make provision for the essential projects and services our communities need, such as repairing and improving our roading network, mitigating the effects of climate change, and supporting and growing communities to become more resilient.
Here are the key proposals we want to hear from you about:
- How to manage the rates increase to lessen the impact on our ratepayers – should we pay for increases straightaway, or spread them over two or three years?
- Options for strategically investing more in future planning, so that our towns can grow and develop in a way that builds resilience
- How best to invest in community development so it’s firmly embedded into our business
- Increasing the fees and charges to make the rates more affordable, and so that costs will be covered by those who use the services
- Options for bringing our two Thames Council offices up to scratch so that they meet the latest safety and seismic standards.
This LTP is a compromise between our communities' aspirations and the stark realities we are facing,” says Mayor Len Salt.
“We’re still recovering from the legacy of last year’s cyclone damage, while also contending with an uncertain economy, high inflation, and planning for costly coastal protection works and the replacement of ageing assets. Political change has impacted Three Waters service delivery and resource management planning,” says Mayor Len.
“We can’t grapple with these challenges on our own. We don’t have the resources to deliver everything, and the only way to reduce rates increases is to cut back on services. However, by working with others, we can have a stronger voice as we continue to seek funding from the Government to support our communities and our continued recovery.
“There are tough decisions ahead and we’ll need your help to make them.”
What will you get for your rates?
- How much you pay will depend on a number of things like the value of your property and the services it is rated for.
- We estimate each household will pay on average $83.74 per week, or around $4,366.09 in 2024/25 for the activities and infrastructure we’re proposing. Currently (2023/24) each household pays $74.18 per week.
- This is a proposed average 12.9% rates increase for all rate types in the first year.
- Over 10 years, this will keep increasing. By the end of the ten years, we forecast each household will pay $117.33 per week.
- This will cover the costs of delivering services, paying back debt and storing some away for future the replacement of ageing assets (depreciation).
Find out more about proposed rate changes:
- Find out about the proposed 2024-25 rates on your property using our Rates Information Database (RID). Please note that QV has issued new proposed property valuations for 2024/25, which should be finalised at the beginning of May. As proposed property valuations have generally moved up across our district, this will also impact the range of rates increases for each property within our district.
- Read our proposed median rating examples for each Community Board area. The median rating examples are only one example per area and rate type. The recent revision of property valuations has resulted in a large range of percentage increases across the district.
The costs ahead
- There are some big costs ahead – we look after about $16 billion worth of infrastructure, assets and facilities, and we estimate that it will cost $356 million over the next 10 years just to take care of existing assets and maintain current services.
- Upgrades and assets will cost another $388 million, including mandatory upgrades such as upgrading our Thames South water infrastructure.
- We’ve estimated our operating costs for ongoing expenditure at a total of 1.4 billion over the next 10 years. That’s an increase of $59 million over the next 10 years from 2023/24 to 2033/34.
Proposed Capex budget
- Our proposed capital projects (projects that involve building or improving property or infrastructure) total $744 million over the next 10 years.
- This includes $192 million that will be spent on recovery and resilience work, and $46 million for growth-related projects.
How to give feedback
