KEY POINTS:
The multimillion-dollar footpath renewal programme is being cut in half this year to hold down Auckland City rates.
Footpaths are on a long list of deferred projects drawn up by the Citizens & Ratepayers-controlled council to keep rates at 5.1 per cent.
Instead of sticking with an $83 million programme the previous council introduced in 2006 to replace the city's worst footpaths, C&R is proposing to halve this year's budget from $15.3 million to $7.6 million and do the work in later years.
Other projects being postponed include a $16.2 million New Zealand fauna and flora precinct at Auckland Zoo; restoration of the Pah homestead at Monte Cecilia Park, and the park itself; upgrades of the Blockhouse Bay to Onehunga harbour walkways; and redevelopments to Otahuhu, Blockhouse Bay, Waiheke and Mt Roskill libraries.
A $25.5 million budget over 10 years for improving community facilities has been slashed to $1.5 million.
The council will meet tomorrow to draw up this year's draft budget, which will go for public consultation.
C&R has decided to defer a number of capital projects as the main way of reducing this year's planned rates increase of 10.2 per cent to 5.1 per cent.
The council will also consider other options, such as borrowing and contributions from developers.
Household rates will go up by about 5.8 per cent as the council continues with a programme of reducing higher rates paid by businesses.
Ratepayers also face a 5.1 per cent rise in water rates after Mayor John Banks and C&R decided to keep taking "charitable payments" from the council-owned water company, Metrowater, for general council spending.
Mr Banks, who had called the practice "water price gouging", and C&R, whose policy is to keep water charges "as low as possible", have back-tracked on their election promises.
For most households, the rates increase will be $82. This is made up of an $23 increase in the fixed rubbish and recycling charge from $199 to $222 and a $59 increase in the uniform annual charge from $95 to $154.
Finance committee chairman Doug Armstrong said C&R had agonised over scaling back the footpath renewal programme, which has been hugely popular and earned rare brownie points for the council.
Mr Armstrong said even though footpaths were a high priority for the council, it had to be balanced against the need to keep rates down.
He said C&R would start making up for lost ground on footpaths next year but he could not guarantee other deferred projects would not be further deferred next year. This was because of the need to peg back projected rates increases of 8 per cent and 8.6 per cent over the next two years to council inflation.
A Labour councillor on the City Vision ticket, Leila Boyle, said most of the deferred projects were for essential community infrastructure, particularly in the Avondale and Tamaki communities and areas expected to take population growth.
She said the proposed higher fixed charges would lead to an 8.7 per cent rates increase for low-value properties, 6.5 per cent rates increase for middle value properties and 4.4 per cent for high value properties.
ON HOLD
* Footpath renewal programme: Cut this year's budget of $15.3 million to $7.6 million and pick up the work from next year.
* New Zealand flora and fauna precinct at Auckland Zoo: Defer $16.2 million project by one year.
* Cycleway and walkway improvements: Defer $3 million budget by three years.
* Otahuhu library: Defer $6 million improvements by three years.
* Blockhouse Bay, Waiheke Island, Mt Roskill library improvements: Defer by one year.
* Ponsonby Rd urban square: Defer $2.06 million project by three years.
* Glen Innes town centre upgrade: Defer $5 million stage two by three years.
* Volcanic landscape programme: Defer $2.2 million in spending over two years.
* Blockhouse Bay to Onehunga harbour walkways: Defer by two years.
* Pt Erin pool: Defer $5.4 million redevelopment by two years.
* Lorne St upgrade: Defer $5.2 million stage two by three years.
* Pah homestead: Defer restoration by three years, except $1.5 million for essential work.
* Monte Cecilia Park: Defer $1.2 million development by three years.
* Marine event centre: Defer construction of $20 million project by one year.
* Teal park: Defer construction of new $3 million park and beach by three years.
* Harbour Bridge park: Defer $3 million park by three years.
