Wellington regional rates to rise 6.1pc

The Greater Wellington Regional Council draft Annual Plan 2014/15 proposes a 6.1 per cent increase in the rates value paid per $100,000 of a property's value.

It's time for the public to have a say on what Greater Wellington Regional Council plans to do this year.

The council is finalising its draft Annual Plan 2014/15, which sets out what it intends to do and how much it expects to spend in the coming financial year.

The plan proposes a 6.1 per cent increase in the rates value paid per $100,000 of a property's value. Based on an average value of a residential property, this would mean an average increase of $6.15 in Masterton, $10.82 in Carterton and $3.05 in South Wairarapa. The increase is significantly less than the 11.3 per cent earmarked in the long-term plan.

In the consultation documents, regional council chairwoman Fran Wilde said while it was business as usual, there were some ambitious strategies.

"The biggest single area of delivery is transport, which is critical for our region."

This included projects like the Wellington city public transport spine and the single card integrated fare and ticketing system for the region's public transport as well as a continued focus on improving rail service reliability.

"This is a critical underpinning for our objective of a truly integrated, seamless public transport system for the region incorporating all modes - rail, bus and ferry."

Several key projects have been delayed and changed from the long-term plan expectations.

The integrated fare and ticketing system project has been delayed because of the slower-than-expected completion of the Auckland integrated fares project. A business case is now expected to be completed in 2014/15 and, if approved, the system is expected to begin rolling out in 2016/17.

The Wairarapa Water Use Project is also progressing more slowly than anticipated.

If it is decided to proceed with full feasibility investigations, they will be completed in 2015.

The increase in public transport fare revenue has also changed from expectations in the long-term plan.

The council assumed a 3 per cent increase this year in the long-term plan but the forecast has been revised to 2 per cent. Submissions on the draft annual plan close on April 28.