The South Taranaki District Council (STDC) adopted its 2022/23 Annual Plan for the new financial year at Monday night’s meeting approving a 2.84% average rate increase, well below the current rate of inflation (6.9%), and lower than the 4.68% originally projected in its 2021-31 Long Term Plan.
South Taranaki Mayor Phil Nixon says he is very pleased the Council has been able to reduce the projected rate increase, although the effect on individual properties will vary due to the recent district property revaluation, which saw substantial increases in the value of residential and commercial properties.
“Since its last valuation three years ago, the district has had an average increase in property value of 20.4%. This was largely driven by significant increases in the residential and commercial sectors - while dairy and pastoral properties saw a small decrease.”
“If your property’s valuation increased more than the district average increase (20.4%) you will pay more than the 2.84% rate increase. Conversely, if your property’s capital value did not increase as much as the district’s average movement then your rates will not increase as much as indicated and may even decrease,” says Mayor Nixon.
“Our Council is always conscious of the need to keep any rate increases to an affordable level, and we were particularly focussed on minimising any impact the new property values may have on ratepayers without compromising future plans or our overall financial position,” he says.
Mayor Nixon says the Council’s focus for the 2022/23 year continues to be on undertaking activities that encourage sustainable, prosperous and vibrant communities.
“We are doing that with projects such as the district business park, construction of Te Ramanui o Ruapūtahanga, development of town centre revitalisation upgrades for Eltham, Waverley, Manaia, Pātea and Ōpunakē, implementation of Council’s Environment and Sustainability Strategy and completion of the Nukumaru Station Road extension south of Waverley. At the same time we are continuing upgrades and improvements to our road, water and wastewater infrastructure.”
Other notable projects the Council has planned for 2022/2023 include:
- building a new reservoir at Waimate West,
- replacing water pipes in Ohawe,
- earthquake strengthening and upgrading the Eltham Town Hall,
- undertaking water pressure improvements in Pātea,
- developing a new water bore for Eltham,
- water plant upgrades in Ōpunakē,
- tertiary treatment for the Waverley waste water treatment plant,
- establishment of a business enterprise hub and co-working space and;
- progressing investigations with Te Korowai o Ngāruahine into the feasibility of new combined multi-purpose facility in Manaia.
More information on the Council’s 2022/23 Annual Plan can be found here.
