Waiheke, Waiuku escape ARC levy

By WAYNE THOMPSON

Waiheke and Waiuku property owners have been given a last-minute reprieve from having to pay the controversial passenger transport rates levied by the Auckland Regional Council.

The council yesterday confirmed its annual budget for the first year in which it will collect its rates directly from 380,000 property owners.

It aims to collect $104.1 million in rates this year, compared with $77.7 million last year. Most of this 34 per cent increase is for transport costs.

To pay for this, the council has introduced targeted transport rates for network and services on a capital value basis. These rates apply only to those who own a property within the defined passenger transport rateable area, where there is access to services.

The council yesterday agreed that Auckland City's island suburb Waiheke, and the western Franklin town of Waiuku should be excluded from the transport rateable area.

Franklin Mayor Heather Maloney said last night the concession to Waiuku was welcome.

Auckland City councillor Faye Storer, who lives on Waiheke, said the exemption was fair because the island's major transport link, the ferry from Matiatia to downtown Auckland, was not subsidised.