Council confirms 4.9% rates increase

Manukau residents will see a 4.9 per cent increase in their rates following the Manukau City Council’s adoption of its 2008/09 Annual Plan.

Acting Mayor Gary Troup says the council had to strike a balance between meeting present requirements while still ensuring the council is able to meet the city’s future needs.

“We are conscious of the pressure many of our residents face, particularly in the current economic climate.

“This 4.9 per cent increase is down on the proposed 5.9 per cent increase in the Long Term Council Community Plan, but we believe the council will be able to maintain financial sustainability as well as meet the community’s needs for service and economic restraint,” Mr Troup says.

A fixed wastewater charge for residents was also retained.

“Deciding this structure was extremely difficult. We had to consider the impacts on different groups of customers, as well as keep in mind the issue of water conservation.

“We decided to keep using the residential fixed charge because it was the fairest option. It prevents an unreasonable burden falling on large families, which is what would have happened if we adopted charging by volume.”

Charges to community groups and business customers will be a mix of a fixed charge and a price per cubic metre of water used. The subsidy that businesses and community groups effectively provided to residential consumers will be reduced over four years.

Charges for ‘trade-waste’ customers (those commercial customers who pay Watercare Services Limited directly for treatment of trade waste) will be kept at $1.25 per cubic metre.

Charges for Beachlands and Maraetai will also increase to $500 per year to help cover the operating costs of the Beachlands/Maraetai treatment plant. This will also be phased in over four years.

“I would also like to remind residents that a rates rebate is available for those on low incomes and this includes water charges. It is important that people take advantage of this, as they can receive up to $500 if they qualify,” Mr Troup says.

Details of the rebates can be found on the council’s website, www.manukau.govt.nz, where applications can also be made on line. Applications for the current 07/08 financial year close on

Other highlights in the Annual Plan include:

· Otara’s Norman Kirk Memorial Pool will be redeveloped, with the upgrade including new learners’ pools, splash pool, spa pool and sauna, as well as a 25 metre lap pool. The $10.3m cost will be spread over three years.

· An additional $250,000 will also go towards the John Walker Find Your Field of Dreams project, which is designed to help Manukau’s youth find a new focus through sport and which has already gained significant corporate sponsorships.

· Supporting the council’s growth plans for the Manukau city centre, $5.6 million is budgeted for the Manukau rail link.

· Funding of $1 million will be put towards the completion of the Lloyd Elsmore Park all-weather running track.

· The council is supporting the redevelopment of the interim emergency boat ramp at Mangere Bridge. This will include a widened ramp, a concrete pontoon and a breakwater, as well as parking, at a cost of $2m, funded jointly with Auckland City Council. The council will also include a proposal in the 2009 – 19 Long Term Council Community Plan (long-term plan) that its contribution to the boat-ramp be increased from $600,000 to $1m.

· There will also be increases in grants to the Uxbridge Community Projects Incorporated of $30,000 and the Howick and Districts Historical Society ($50,000). The Howick Little Theatre will also receive an annual grant of $20,000, while the Manukau City Symphony Orchestra will receive an additional $65,000 per year.