We are currently consulting on our plan, and like other councils in Hawke’s Bay and around the country, we are contending with very tough financial conditions.
Our council is very aware the 25 per cent rate increase we are proposing for 2024 to 2025 is just another pressure we are putting on our residents, who are facing rising costs of living across the board.
I have appreciated being out in the community, sharing our plans and hearing from our people.
The reality is we currently have no other funding options to build and maintain sustainable infrastructure and pay increased interest and debt funding costs for past projects (such as our extensive drinking water upgrade).
In Hastings, this situation is even more challenging considering the additional expense of recovering and building back from Cyclone Gabrielle - 8 per cent of this year’s proposed rate increase is directly to fund the cyclone recovery, mostly rebuilding our transport network.
Identifying the priorities and rebuilding and improving roads and bridges is essential for the economic and social wellbeing of our district.
Our primary sector is the engine room of our economy, and good-quality infrastructure is vital to supporting industry and employment opportunities.
Infrastructure Commission figures show in the past three years, it’s become 38 per cent more costly to build bridges, 27 per cent more expensive to build roads and water supply systems, and 30 per cent more expensive to build sewerage systems.
We’re acutely aware of the financial pressures our community faces from other areas. The cost of living has increased significantly in the past two to three years, and this is making it really tough on household budgets, particularly for those on fixed incomes.
This is why we focus on investing in essential infrastructure needs, not the nice-to-haves.
Consultation on our plan closes at 5pm on Monday, May 27, and we want to hear what you think. Please go to www.myvoicemychoice.co.nz to learn more and let us know your views.
