KEY POINTS:
Manukau City Council has announced a 4.9 per cent rate increase for residents, though a fixed wastewater charge will not change.
The figure - presented in this year's annual plan - is a drop from the 5.9 per cent increase proposed in the city's long-term council community plan.
Acting Mayor Gary Troup was assured by the decision, saying: "We believe the council will be able to maintain financial sustainability as well as meet the community's needs for service and economic restraint.
"We are conscious of the pressure many of our residents face - particularly in the current economic climate."
A fixed wastewater charge for residents was also announced, after debate among councillors this month - when a close vote saw the fixed charges remain for Manukau residents.
Mr Troup said coming to the decision of a fixed wastewater charge was a difficult one, as all parties and customers had to be considered.
"We decided to keep 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 the volume."
Other plans announced include the $10 million redevelopment of the Norman Kirk Memorial Pool in Otara, an extra $250,000 for the Find Your Field of Dreams project, and $5.6 million for the Manukau rail link.
