Proposed annual plan approved

Greater Wellington Regional Council today approved the Proposed Annual Plan for the 2008/09 year.

The plan contains information about Greater Wellington’s key projects for the 2008/09 financial year, starting on 1 July 2008.

Public submissions are invited on the Proposed Annual Plan. Written submissions should be made between 3 April and 5 May. Some public meetings will be held. Details of these will be advertised. Submissions will be heard on 21 and 22 May.

The proposed rates increase for the 2008/09 financial year is 6.8%. Rising transport costs, in particular diesel to fuel the region’s buses, account for 40% of the proposed rates rise. However, ratepayers will not pay for the entire transport cost increase, and the Regional Council is also consulting with the public on a proposal to raise fares by about 10% on 1 September this year. This would be an average increase across the Metlink network, and would impact differently on different fare zones.

There is no increase proposed for the bulk water levy charged by Greater Wellington Regional Council to the four local authorities it supplies.

The proposed rate increases will impact differently on properties across the region’s local authority areas, depending on what specific rates or charges are applied for local needs (e.g. flood protection) and also changes in capital value of properties.

A summary of the Proposed Annual Plan, which contains a submission form and information about the submission process, will be delivered to all households in the region. Copies of the full Proposed Annual Plan 2008/09 document will be available from Greater Wellington’s Wellington and Masterton offices.