Posted: 11 April 2007
Comment sought on $22m draft NRC budget
Northlanders have a month from today (Weds 11 April) to comment on a variety of planned projects – including part funding a Marsden Pt rail link designation – as detailed in the Northland Regional Council’s Draft Annual Plan 2007/08.
Northland Regional Councillors recently approved a $22.01 million (GST-inclusive) draft budget for the 12 months beginning 1 July, which includes new plans to pay for a one-third share of a proposed $10M Marsden Pt rail link designation.
An official one-month period for public comment began today, with submissions able to be made until 3pm on Friday 11 May.
Council Chairman Mark Farnsworth says the Draft Annual Plan generally follows a direction set out in the Council’s previously approved Long Term Council Community Plan 2006-2016, with several exceptions, including the rail designation proposal.
“Additionally, the Draft Plan also contains proposals to introduce a new Kaihu River Rate to fund river protection work on the Kaihu River and to establish an Infrastructure Development Authority as a mechanism for funding future infrastructure projects.”
Mr Farnsworth says the Council proposes to collect $9.77M (incl GST) in rates – an increase of almost $1.16M or 13.4% on the current year – with the bulk of the balance of the $22M coming from investments and fees and charges.
He says the proposed rates rise was spelled out last year in the Council’s LTCCP, but even if approved, total Regional Council rates will still remain relatively low, with an average annual bill of $122 (incl GST) for each of the 80,125 rateable properties on its books.
Mr Farnsworth says copies of the full 124-page Draft Annual Plan are available from all Regional Council offices and the Council’s website www.nrc.govt.nz
He says an eight-page Summary Draft Annual Plan has also been printed and more than 50,000 copies will be sent to homes throughout Northland next week. Copies of the Summary are also available now on the Council’s website.
Submissions on the Draft Annual Plan will be considered by Councillors in Whangarei in late May. Based on the submissions, any changes to the Draft will be incorporated in a revised Annual Plan to be presented to the full Council for adoption at its June meeting.
A final version of the Annual Plan will then be printed and distributed in late July.