Ready To Grow - Our 2021-2031 10-Year-Plan

The 2021 - 2031 10-Year-Plan has been adopted. Thank you to everyone who gave us feedback and contributed to the final plan.

• Council adopts its 10 year blueprint for the District

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  The Gore District Council has delivered a district-wide average rate increase of 6.42% for the 2021/22 financial year.

  The Council’s adoption of its 2021 – 2031 10-Year-Plan at an extraordinary meeting yesterday has given ratepayers a lower than expected rates increase for this year.

  Gore District Mayor Tracy Hicks said this rates setting and 10-Year-Plan process had been the most challenging during his years as mayor.

  “It’s pleasing to get to this stage.”

  Chief Executive Stephen Parry endorsed the mayor’s comments.

  “We can’t underestimate the impact of the February floods and COVID-19 in eroding into our planning time for the 10-Year-Plan.”

  The exacting audit process had also added to the time required to deliver a completed plan, Mr Parry said.

  The 6.42% average increase means Gore residential ratepayers are looking at paying $3.00 to $5.00 more a week, depending on their property value. Mataura residential ratepayers will pay $3.00 a week more.

  Chief Financial Officer Lornae Straith said the key items resulting in the change from the proposed 8.22% rates increase were:

  • A revision of the roading programme as a result of the Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agencies funding announcement, which reduces the roading programme for the District in the first three years of the 10YP
  • Funding the cost of the District Plan by way of loan given it has a multi-year benefit to the community, and
  • The Otama water rate change from being fully funded from rates to funding being split between rates and reserves.

  Capital works funding, coupled with the rates suppression initiatives undertaken last year in response to COVID-19, were the main drivers behind the rates increase.

  This year was the only year of the 10YP where the Council breaches its self-imposed 5% per annum cap.

  The Government’s 3 Waters Reforms has caused uncertainty around where the management and delivery of wastewater, stormwater and drinking water will rest in the future.

  That said, the Council has made a commitment to invest $54.7 million over the next decade in infrastructure renewals and upgrades. A priority is upgrading the Mataura and Gore water treatment plants to fully comply with national drinking water standards.

  Another major infrastructure project is the separation of wastewater and stormwater pipelines in Gore and Mataura.

  After considering feedback on the funding of wastewater and stormwater pipeline separation on private properties, it was decided the cost would be shared equally between the property owner and ratepayers. The amount an individual ratepayer would be expected to pay will be determined once detailed planning and cost estimates for the connection to the street network has been completed.

  As a result of submissions to the 10YP, the Council agreed to provide $25,000 a year from parks and reserves budgets for the Hokonui Mountain Bike Club to develop and maintain cycle tracks in the District.

  Sport Southland gets $10,000 a year for the life of the 10YP to assist with the employment of a coordinator to implement its Regional Places and Spaces Strategy. The Council also agreed to underwrite any funding shortfall, up to $237,000, to upgrade the St James Theatre.

  The Council will be undertaking further consultation with the rural community about the future of the Rural Special Fund. It will also carry out further consultation about the future of the old Gore library once it has more details about some of the options.

• Major infrastructure challenges facing the District

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  Significant capital investment in 3 Waters infrastructure and the future of waste collection services are among major issues facing the Gore District Council over the next decade.

  These are highlighted in Ready to Grow, the Council’s 2021 – 2031 10-Year-Plan (10YP) consultation document, which opens today for public feedback.

  The 10-Year-Plan is the Council’s blueprint for the coming decade. It sets out the Council’s aspirations for the District and the challenges, such as replacing ageing infrastructure, driving capital expenditure.

  Gore District Mayor Tracy Hicks said Ready to Grow was probably the most significant 10-year-plan the Council has produced in two decades.

  “This is due to the number of capital investments we are facing to future proof water supply and wastewater treatment for the District, while working through the major structural changes the Government is proposing for the ownership of both.”

  It was pleasing to see progress on a new home for the Gore library and modern, functional community spaces, he said.

  Gore District Chief Executive Stephen Parry said the 2021 – 2031 10YP was about balancing core activities, meeting government regulations and the community’s aspirations for a vibrant community with what was affordable for all.

  The Council is looking at an average district-wide rate of 8.22% in the first year of its 10YP.

  “It’s important to realise this increase comes after a 2.84% increase last year. We were aware we needed to keep last year’s rates increase as low as possible due to COVID-19. However, it was never going to be sustainable.”

  Nevertheless, the coming financial year is the only time during the next 10 years the Council predicts it will breach its 5% rating cap, he said.

  When broken down into weekly dollar figures, the proposed rates increase for the Council’s different rating areas would be:

  • Gore residential – an increase of between $4.00 and $7.00 per week
  • Mataura residential – an increase of $4.00 per week
  • Gore commercial – an increase of between $5.00 and $14.00 per week
  • Mataura commercial – an increase of $2.00 or $3.00 per week
  • Rural – an increase of between $2.00 and $11.00 per week

  The future of the old Gore Library building, who pays for the separation of stormwater and wastewater pipes on private property, and the Special Rural Fund are issues up for discussion this year.

  The Council has put forward three options for the old library building. The preferred option is to transfer ownership to a local arts trust and see it redeveloped to complement the arts and cultural themes of the heritage precinct.

  Pipeline Separation

  With the Council about to start separating stormwater and wastewater mains on public land, residents are being asked who should pay for the separation of these pipelines on private land.

  Given around two-thirds of Gore properties have combined wastewater and stormwater pipes, the answer will affect most ratepayers in the town. The Council has three funding options, although these were conceptual and would require further analysis.

  Rural Special Fund

  The third issue is the future of a fund set up in 1989 with money from the former Southland County Council. Over the years the Rural Special Fund has been used to benefit rural ratepayers. The Council’s preferred option is to put the $512,000 in the fund towards reducing debt on the new Pyramid Bridge.