One week left to submit on Draft Annual Plan

Waikato ratepayers have a week left to submit on Environment Waikato’s proposed work programmes and rates rises for the next financial year.

Two key proposals outlined in the 2008/09 Draft Annual Plan relate to new bus services in Hamilton (affecting only Hamilton ratepayers) and cuts to the pest management budget throughout the region.
The proposals were outlined in a Draft Annual Plan summary send to all households in the council’s Envirocare newsletter. The full plan and summary document is also available on www.ew.govt.nz , or from Environment Waikato offices.

The council has already reduced the pest management budget by $1.4 million from the amount projected in its Long-Term Council Community Plan.

It is now seeking feedback on three options for further cost and service reductions.

Option one – council’s preferred option – would reduce costs by $132,000, deferring pest control on 32,000 hectares. At the other end of the spectrum, option three would reduce costs by $500,000, deferring pest control on 211,000 hectares.

Council is also seeking feedback from Hamilton ratepayers on a plan to provide more bus services to more places, more often.

Three funding options for Hamilton bus services are proposed in the 2008/09 Draft Annual Plan.

Council’s preferred option is option two, which would see new Sunday bus services introduced at an increased cost to Hamilton ratepayers of $3.17 per $100,000 of capital value.

Environment Waikato chairman Peter Buckley encouraged people to share their views on the Draft Annual Plan, which is open for submissions until May 1.

“Your submissions will help to shape our final decisions so please have your say,” he said.

Submissions on the proposed amendments to the council’s 2006-16 Long-Term Council Community Plan and draft Land Transport Programme also close on May 1.