Strong Progress Made Despite Challenging Economic Conditions
Despite challenging economic conditions, the South Taranaki District Council demonstrated significant progress on a number of key initiatives as outlined in its 2022/23 Annual Report which was adopted at Monday’s (30 October) Council meeting.
The Report, audited by Deloitte, highlighted progress on Te Ramanui o Ruapūtahanga (the District’s new Library, Culture and Arts Centre), the South Taranaki Business Park and completion of Te W’anake/The Foundry as being particularly notable.
In addition, co-design teams had been established, and draft plans developed for the Waverley, Ōpunakē, and Eltham town centre upgrades and the completion of a new architecturally designed building at Aotea Utanganui – Museum of South Taranaki in Pātea.
South Taranaki Mayor, Phil Nixon acknowledged the strong progress made amid difficult economic conditions.
“As a result of global instability, rising costs and a sluggish domestic economy the Council finished the year with a modest $768,000 budget deficit. A tight labour market and ongoing COVID-19 supply issues saw significant price increases with higher-than-expected interest rates and contractor costs, particularly in roading and construction,” he says.
Five severe weather events over the course of the year also saw $3.4 million of unbudgeted repairs needed on the District’s road infrastructure.
Despite the volatile market conditions the Council’s Long Term Investment Fund performed better than expected and, after allowing for the withdrawal of the annual rates subsidy, finished the year at $144.8 million.
The Annual Report also noted that satisfaction with Council services remained high with 89% of residents happy with the overall service the Council provides and 92% believing the Council is moving in the right direction. The services that had the lowest satisfaction rates were the condition of roads and animal management.
Key features/highlights of 2022/23:
- Construction started on Te Ramanui o Ruapūtahanga
- Stage 1 development of the South Taranaki Business Park completed, and work started on stage 2.
- Co-design teams established, and draft plans developed for the Waverley, Ōpunakē, and Eltham town centre upgrades.
- In partnership with Bizlink Hāwera established a co-working, business innovation and enterprise hub (Te W’anake – The Foundry)
- 90% of the 10.4km Nukumaru Station Road extension project and approximately 80% of the new $4.2 million Waimate West reservoir complete
- New $1.15 million watermain installed on Turuturu Road
- The Normanby to Hāwera pathway (along Ketemarae and Glover Roads) completed.
- Stage 2 of Aotea Utanganui – Museum of South Taranaki was completed.
