Council adopts Draft Annual Plan for consultation

This week Taupo District Councillors adopted the Draft 2008/09 Annual Plan and it looks like good news for ratepayers.



After working extremely hard to identify and improve the way we work, Council have been successful in keeping the rates increase as low as possible for Taupo District Ratepayers. The average District rates increase has been kept to 4.02% which is significantly lower than the 6.46% forecast in Council’s ten year plan. This is made up of a 3.47% increase within the Taupo/Kaingaroa – Mangakino/Pouakani (TKMP) area and 5.80% within the Turangi/Tongariro (TT) area. The Turangi/Tongariro area has seen an increase due to unforeseen costs associated with the Aquatic Centre upgrade.



As well as setting the rates for the year ahead, the Annual Plan states the activities that Council plan to undertake, the associated costs and the deviations from the Long Term Council Community Plan (LTCCP).



The message Mayor Rick Cooper and fellow Councillors had given staff leading up to the adoption of the draft plan was that it was crucial that the rate increase be as close to the rate of inflation as possible, whilst maintaining current levels of service. At the meeting today Councillors congratulated the CEO and staff on achieving the difficult task of minimising the rates impact for ratepayers.



“This year we have worked really hard to keep rates increase at a sustainable level and to find a good balance between affordability and the desires of our communities,” said Mayor Rick.



Deputy Mayor Christine McElwee echoed the Mayors sentiments and said she had waited a long time for this day, “while our new CEO, Rob Williams, may not wish to sing his own praises, I must congratulate him and officers for this outstanding result.”



Council encourages the residents and ratepayers to provide feedback on the Annual Plan and what they would like to see from their Council. “We want to know what our communities’ hopes, aspirations and dreams are for the future of the District – we want to capture feedback from the people on the street,” said Mayor Rick.



Open days are being held for members of the community to review and discuss the Draft Annual Plan and other key projects that Council are working on at the moment including Landscape and Natural Values and the Lake Taupo Flood and Erosion strategy. These open days are scheduled as follows:

- Tuesday 8 April 12 midday to 7 pm at the Great Lake Centre

- Wednesday 9 April, 12 midday to 5 pm at the Turangi Service Centre

- Thursday 10 April, 12 midday to 5pm at the Mangakino Council Offices

- Saturday 12 April, 10 am to 3 pm at the Acacia Bay Hall.



This year, members of the community can make submissions verbally by phoning 0800 ASK TDC (080 275 832) as well as via the standard channels including written, faxed or online at www.taupo.govt.nz. Submissions are due by 21 April and dates that have been set down for hearing submissions are from 5 – 9 May.



Following the adoption of this year’s Annual Plan Council will review the long term plan (LTCCP) which occurs every three years and provides the long-term vision. Council takes stock of what has happened over the past few years and updates the LTCCP to address the next ten years.