Boundary attendances on rise

ATTENDANCES have been growing as a series of public meetings on the Draft Boundary Reorganisation Scheme for Manawatu District and Palmerston North City continue with lively discussion and debate.

After a quiet beginning in Palmerston North and Ashhurst, numbers increased for the meetings at Bunnythorpe and Newbury, with attendances of 65 and 80 respectively. The other two meetings scheduled were in Feilding tonight and at Longburn School tomorrow night.

The meetings - chaired by the Chief Executives for the Manawatu District Council and Palmerston North City Council, Lorraine Vincent and Paddy Clifford - relay information on the proposal and offers the audience an opportunity to ask questions.

MDC Customer Services and Democracy Manager, Janine Hawthorn, said land zoning and strategic roading were among the issues aired, while residents in the boundary change area had asked if their rates would be affected.

In reply, the councils said there was no simple answer, because a lot of factors were involved in determining rates.

“The current assessments indicate that the overall rates total for the area is expected to drop,” the councils said.

“Rates in the area now administered by Manawatu, but proposed to be transferred to Palmerston North, currently include a component which funds Manawatu District-wide activities such as the library, Makino pool, parks and reserves and district overheads. While the city will also require similar types of services to be included in the rates payments, the larger population means these costs are likely to be lower for each individual ratepayer.”

The councils said MDC and PNCC had different rating systems, meaning that the impact on rates would vary for each property.

“While the total rates for the area is expected to be lower, some individual ratepayers will pay more and others less. The city council has committed that properties being brought into the city will be rated in the same manner as similar properties currently in Palmerston North.”

Submissions on the scheme are being sought until 5pm on Thursday, September 8. Copies of the scheme are available in Feilding from the MDC office in Manchester Street and the Public Library. Further information at www.boundarychange.co.nz or by contacting Janine Hawthorn at the MDC on (06) 323-0000.