Whanganui District Council reveals projected rate rise as draft long term plan signed off

Whanganui District Council has approved the draft of its long-term plan and public consultation begins next week. Photo / Bevan Conley

Whanganui District Council has signed off its draft long-term plan and now it is time for the public to have its say.

The draft 10-year- plan has a projected average annual rates increase of 3.2 per cent over the next decade - and an average of 5.7 per cent for the 2020/21 year.

The council will spend $1.1 billion on the district over the next 10 years and its net debt will peak at $146 million in 2024 - 25.

Rates will make up 62 per cent of revenue in that time.

Mayor Hamish McDouall said each council was required to develop a consultation document that sets out its 10-year plan in a way that is clear and accessible for the community.

"Our call to action for this consultation is 'Let's Connect' and that's really what we want to do over the next month," he said.

"We plan to be out and about in the community talking to people about the draft plan and hearing their views on options for Whanganui for the next 10 years."

The consultation document Let's Connect is available on the council website and will be available in print form from Monday.

Councillor Helen Craig said the document provided a clear overview of the plan.

"If you have never read a plan before, this is the one you should read," she said.

"For people who are unclear about what the council does, this has the answers."

This long-term plan includes four big projects; the future of the Whanganui Velodrome, investment in spaces and places for young people, an extension for the Davis Library and development of a coastal care plan.

A proposed extension of the Davis Library is one of four major projects included in the long-term plan. Photo / File

"This last year has been very tough and, even though Whanganui weathered it relatively well, we have all been through a strange and dark period of history," McDouall said.

Debbie Perera of Audit New Zealand said she was satisfied with the strategies.

Parera said the only uncertainties in the plan were around whether the council was able to secure additional external funding for the Velodrome and the library extension.

However, she said Whanganui has a good track record for securing funding for projects.

"The other area of uncertainty is around the Three Waters Reform Programme," Parera said.

"However, you have worked on the assumption that Whanganui will retain management of the infrastructure, which is fine because we don't know what will happen yet."

McDouall spoke about the 5.7 per cent rates rise for the coming year and said while he recognised it would be difficult for some ratepayers, it was considerably lower than increases imposed by some other councils.

"We don't have the infrastructure deficits that some other councils have so we have been able to keep it relatively low," he said.

The mayor said last year's increase was close to 2 per cent in response to Covid-19.

The council is proposing lower rates increases over the next 10 years, dropping to 2.2 per cent in 2026-27.

Council policy team leader Jasmine Hessell said the plan followed 12 months of workshops with councillors, and all council staff teams have been involved in producing the draft.

Public consultation on the plan opens at 8.30am on Monday and all information, including the consultation document, the events schedule, submission forms and supporting documentation, will be available on the Whanganui District Council website.

A series of Let's Connect public meetings will be held during the next month, beginning with a Whanganui Velodrome meeting in the Pioneer Room at the War Memorial Centre at 5.30pm on Wednesday, March 31.

"We're looking forward to bringing some colour and fun to our engagement events and we hope our community will respond by coming to see us and by providing feedback and submissions we can use to finalise our plan," McDouall said.

Public submissions on the long-term plan can be made by completing a form available from WDC, online at whanganui.govt.nz/long-term-plan or emailed to policysubmissions@whanganui.govt.nz. Public consultation ends at 5pm on April 30 and submission hearings will be held on May 13.