Residents brace for rates hike

wta200513abrates.jpg 20.05.13 Stock image of ratepayer's bill for the South Wairarapa District Council (address has been blanked out). WTA 21May13 - OWED: Pay up, please, say South Wairarapa counc

South Wairarapa residents will have a rates increase of 3.58 per cent this year.

Following submissions from the public, the figure was slightly up from the 3.48 per cent proposed in the South Wairarapa District Council's 2014/15 draft annual plan, adopted by councillors last week.

A key factor in the increase was a boost in grants made to community groups and special purpose projects.

Councillors approved $129,610 worth of grants after discussing submission requests.

Aratoi will get $25,000, the largest grant, and Cobblestones Museum is set to get $10,000 on top of the $10,000 it was already allocated.

A programme for troubled kids will get $10,000, Enviroschools $9000 and the Wairarapa Sports Artificial Surface Trust, $10,000.

Vineyard owners and residents on Te Muna Rd who complained about pot holes and dust will be pleased that the council will seal about 1700 metres of their road and 300 metres of Fraters Rd.

Greater Wellington Regional Council also adopted its annual plan last week and the average residential rates will increase 5.7 per cent.

The increase varies depending where you live and capital values.

For a house in South Wairarapa worth $200,000, the rate take per year would be $113, about $6 more than last year.