Masterton rates to increase 2.6%

A 2.6 per cent rates increase overall comes with the adoption of Masterton District Council's adoption of their Annual Plan and Budget 2014-2015, passed during a full council meeting on Wednesday night.

Urban ratepayers will see a 2.8 per cent typical increase, while rural residents will see a 2.2 per cent increase.

Particular items in the plan include Queen Elizabeth Park, which will receive continued rejuvenation funds to the tune of $215,000 over the next 12 months.

On this matter councillor Gary Caffell stressed the need for good communication to the public in the lead-up to felling dangerous trees.

But councillor David Holmes said people needed to be realistic. "People have to realise, trees are like us - they get old. They don't last forever."

A review of the library, at a cost of $50,000, will be undertaken to consider its future needs.

A proposal for a fully-fenced dog exercise area was noted as having "little support" from submitters or dog owners and will not go ahead.

In the same meeting, council approved the go-ahead to construct the new Riversdale Beach public toilet and first aid facility, despite councillor Pip Hannon expressing her disappointment the design did not, in her view, have a gap to permit a "storm event" to flow through.