Waitakere proposes $1b plan

Waitakere City Council has set a $1 billion capital works plan for the next decade, mainly for opening up land for business and housing.

After hearing 350 public comments, the 10-year and annual plan committee is recommending a budget for 2009-10 which will increase the average household rate to rise by 2.97 per cent, or $1 a week.

Regional levies lift the rise to 4.79 per cent and an average household rate of $1920.

Committee chairman Janet Clews said members struggled to strike a balance between being responsible in tough economic times while investing in future growth.

Some projects were moved forward in the long-term programme to have them started before Waitakere becomes part of the Super City.

Big ticket items include $443 million for the development of New Lynn and business land in the Westgate-Hobsonville areas, which will be mainly paid for by borrowing.

Mrs Clews said the revitalisation of New Lynn, allowed by lowering of the railway line, was expected to generate 12,000 new jobs.

Opening up tracts of rural land beyond the Northwestern Motorway promised one of the most significant and complex projects in the country.

But money was also voted for smaller projects which were important for residents.

For example, $1 million is set aside for the McLaren Park/Henderson South community facility, the Corban Art Estate gets a $300,000 upgrade, the Waitakere City Orchestra a $30,000 lifeline and and the mobile library will be able to continue visiting rural villages and schools.

CITY COUNCIL'S RATES 2009-10

* Total rates increase (council costs) 2.97 per cent
* Total rates including regional levies4.95 per cent
* Average residential rate$1920