Grey District Council’s Enhanced Annual Plan closes for submissions next Wednesday, 15 May. The Council opted for the Enhanced Annual Plan over the scheduled Long Term Plan to provide certainty for the next twelve months and to give the new CE the opportunity to be more involved in the longer plan process.
Acting CE Paul Pretorius says the plan is financially prudent and fiscally responsible in the current economic conditions.
“Local government has seen a lot of increases in the cost of delivering services and maintaining infrastructure over the last three or four years, and this Annual Plan reflects that. To keep the rates rise as low as possible we have reprioritised some projects, delayed the start of others and looked long and hard at our programme of works.
“We realise these costs are also affecting our ratepayers and households, so we’re very much sticking to our knitting to ensure we can balance our books while continuing to support and strengthen our communities.”
Grey District Mayor Tania Gibson says the proposed 13.65% rate rise has kept her up at night, but it’s less than a lot of other Councils are facing and is necessary to allow for the continuation of services. She said Council heard the concern from ratepayers around the use of consultants and this has been addressed in this year’s plan.
“We have a great team, and where we have the knowledge and capability in-house, we will very much be using that to our advantage. Where we have holes, we will look to recruit so we can move away from our reliance on outside contractors.”
The Mayor says while the plan is robust, there are some key issues that she’d like to see community feedback on before the plan goes to Council for ratification at the beginning of June.
“We need to look at the issue of sewer separation, so we can be good environmental citizens and ensure we’re complying with our obligations to West Coast Regional Council. We also have critical infrastructure that needs to be maintained and renewed.
“We’re looking for community input to give us the mandate to proceed with the plan we have in place.”
The Enhanced Annual Plan consultation closes on Wednesday 15 May. Submissions can be made online through the Have your say Grey site, via email or dropped into any Council office. You can read the full plan and make your submission directly online at https://haveyoursay.greydc.govt.nz/enhanced-annual.
