2024/25 Annual Plan

Our annual plan is effectively a budget for the services we provide. Just like our ratepayers, we are staring down the barrel of inflation while coping with rising interest rates.

In this cost-of-living crisis Councils across New Zealand are signalling significant rate increases to manage the unavoidable economic pressures that are also hitting households.

We face big increases in our normal, day-to-day costs because of:

• Inflation
• Increased insurance costs
• Increased interest rates

On top of this, we also need to budget for increased audit fees and depreciation.

All these factors mean it costs more for us to deliver the same level of service. To put that into perspective, compared to three years ago when we set our Long-Term Plan:

• Bridges are 38% more expensive to build
• Roads and water supply systems are 27% more expensive to build
• Wastewater systems are 30% more expensive to build

In 2024-25 the Council’s income needs to increase by $9.5million just to maintain the services our residents and ratepayers have come to expect.

How will your rates be affected?

If the proposal is adopted as is, rates will increase on average percent 21.4% across the District.

In dollar terms, this means (on average)

• A $450,000 home in Gore will pay $15.87 extra a week
• A $350,000 home in Mataura will pay $14.60 extra a week
• A $5.7 million farm will pay $26.05 extra a week

You can find out what your rate increase will be, based on the current proposal, by using our online rates calculator. You can click here to view the rates calculator.

How do these rates compare to other household costs?

What have we done to cut costs?

When we started talking, we were looking at a rate increase of 31.7%. About 20% of this was caused by depreciation, interest, inflation, insurance, and audit costs – as well as some new roles we had planned to add.

How did we cut to 21.4%?

• We decided not to fund 20%-30% of depreciation
• We put off creating new roles
• We deferred property renewals and maintenance
• We deferred IT upgrades and projects
• We delayed the recycling rollout
• We realigned delivery of community strategy activities
• We trimmed the parks and reserves materials and contractor budgets
• We deferred upgrading our customer service request system
• We deferred Multisports complex capital projects
• Discontinued the community awards

Are you worried about being able to afford your rates?

Some residential rate payers on low and fixed incomes may be eligible for a rates rebate of up to $750 a year. Click here to find out more about rates rebates or call us on 03 209 0330 and our friendly team can help you.

What about Kerbside Recycling?

Council wants to improve the way we manage our waste through providing new and better options for recycling. In order to align with national kerbside standards we need to bring in a 3 bin kerbside collection for both Gore and Mataura.

We have until 1 January 2027 to add paper and cardboard, plastic bottles, trays and containers of resin identification codes 1, 2, and 5, and aluminum and steel tins and cans to our recycling collection.

Moving to a 3 bin system will enable us to reintroduce recycling while continuing to reduce the impact of contamination of broken glass in mixed recycling, which causes extra waste having to be sent to landfill. In addition, Wastenet needs to cover a range of increased costs for this service, including increases in emissions trading scheme costs and waste level charges. Wastenet will also increase the amount that it invests in education.

Which option do you prefer?

• Option One (preferred option) Introduce a new 140 litre fortnightly blue lid glass recycling bin collection service by April 2025
• Option Two (another option) Delay the introduction of a new 140 litre fortnightly blue lid glass recycling bin collection service starting until the 2025/2026 year

Get the details

Click here to read the full sumary document

You can view other relevant documents on the right hand side of this page.

Come and have a Chinwag

Our Councillors will be available to chat to you about the plan, and get your thoughts and feedback. See the list on the right hand side for an up to date list of all drop in times and locations.

Session times may change, so keep an eye on this page to stay up to date.

What do you think?

Did we get the balance right? What’s important to you? We want to hear your thoughts. Feedback is open until Friday 17 May.

Having your say can be as easy as ticking a box on our submission form located below!