Regional Council raises general rate 5 per cent

NRC chairman Bill Shepherd said of the 1278 submissions received on its LTP, 54 submitters made oral submissions at feedback meetings. Photo / Michael Cunningham

An increase in general rates and a new targeted rate for pest control in Whangarei Heads are contained in the Northland Regional Council's Long Term Plan for the next 10 years.

The LTP 2015/25 was adopted by councillors at their full monthly meeting which was held at the Parua Bay Tavern on Tuesday. The finalised version will be available from the council's website from next week. General NRC rates will rise by 5 per cent or on average $8.68 per rateable property over the next 12 months.

Properties on Whangarei Heads will be levied a new annual rate of $50 per property to fund ongoing community pest control activities.

The NRC will no longer provide the Northland Electricity Services Trust, which runs the region's air ambulance, with $600,000 in annual funding through a targeted rate of about $8 for every household.

Instead, a $900,000 annual fund will have to be fully contested by emergency services and NRC will invite and assess applications through a separate process.

Northland households will each pay $11.84 annually towards the contestable fund.

Of the 1278 submissions to the LTP, 239 related specifically to the council's proposed general rate increase of 5 per cent. Of those who provided feedback on this specific aspect of the council's proposal, 140 or 58.5 per cent supported the proposed increase, 69 or 28.8 per cent disagreed with the proposed rate, while 30 or 12.5 per cent provided other suggestions.

NRC chairman Bill Shepherd said of the 1278 submissions received on its LTP, 54 submitters made oral submissions at feedback meetings in Kaitaia, Kerikeri, Kaikohe and Whangarei.

"Obviously with a document of this size and impact we're not able to please everyone, but as always, the final result represents an honest and genuine attempt by councillors to collectively strike the right balance between affordability, value for money and ongoing improvement for all Northlanders," he said.

In the Far North, an annual targeted rate of $80 per property over 10 years would fund the $2.13 million Kerikeri-Waipapa spillway designed to reduce flooding of State Highway 10. NRC has also set aside $700,000 for the Awanui flood mitigation scheme.

A targeted rate that funds the Kotuku dam flood mitigation works will increase by 40 per cent while the mid-north trial bus service will start midway through next year.

The trial will link commuters in Kaikohe, Ohaeawai, Moerewa, Kawakawa, Paihia, Haruru, Kerikeri and Waipapa and will be funded by a new targeted rate to start from 2016/17 on properties near the route.