Major focus is on maintaining existing assets

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 14, Issue 687, 20 May 1997, Page 9

Major focus is on maintaining existing assets

Ruapehu District Council needs $17.3 million to fund the activities contained in the Draft Annual Plan, compared with $20.03 million in the 1996/97 Annual Plan, with the main emphasis being on maintaining existing assets.

Increased maintenance is planned to enable the roading network to better cope with the demands being put on it, with all funds dedicated to maintenance and no funds being provided for additional seal extensions, unless subsidised by Transit NZ. The year will see several major projects come to fruition, including the final work required on the Matapuna Water Treatment Plant in Taumarunui, and a much needed overhaul of the Raetihi sewerage reticulation system. A major consideration in the development of the 1997/98 Draft Annual Plan was the decision taken during the current year to deficit fund Council programmes by $472,000 in the wake of the Ruapehu eruptions. Lost revenue associated with the eruptions and increased compliance costs dictated by the Local Government Amendment Act No 3 caused an extra drain on Council reserves during the year, making it impossible to contain rates at the 1996/97 lCvel. As a result this year's plan requires a 3.8 per cent increase overall on the rates approved in the 1996/97 Annual Plan. (Council did not levy all of the rates approved for 1996/97 beeause of the Ruapehu eruptions). There will be a 2.6% increase overall in the combined General, Roading and Ward Rates. General Rate and Uniform Annual General Charge General rate revenue required for 1997/ 98 is $619,388, up $1 13,762, while Council is recommending that the Uniform Annual General Charge (UAGC) paid by all ratepayers be increased by $15 to $295 in the coming year. This will produce $2,768,463. Roading Rates Roading rate requirements are $2,925,000 with $2,034,000 to be collected in the Roading North area and $891,000 in Roading South. Ward Rates First levied in 1994/95 to cover activities which can be identified as benefiting only those in the individual wards, the amount required overall for 1997/98 is $533,813. • Ohura Ward will be levied $2"8,125; Taumarunui Ward $140,625; National Park - $79,-875; Waimarino Ward- $262,-68 and Waiourh Wai*d $22,50(T

District Promotion Rate The amount required for marketing remains unchanged at $106,875, but the rate levied has dropped from 97c to 94c as a result of the recent property revaluations. Water Rates Separate uniform annual eharges to fund the District water supplies will total $1,732,320, down 0.5% on last year. Refuse Collection The revenue from collecting refuse in the northern wards will be $123,345 (down 6.5%), while southern wards refuse collection revenue will total $105,840 (down 8.8%). Landfill Maintenance Charges for operating the Waimarino Landfill have risen after requests for longer

operating hours, pushing the overall landfill maintenance revenue requirement up to $443,565, up 42.1% on 1996/97. Sewerage Rates Funding the District sewerage systems in 1997/98 requires $1,009,129, up 6.7% on 1996/97. Mainstreet Charges Two new separate rates (a separate uniform annual charge levied on the northern wards and a separate rate levied on the commercial area of Taumarunui township) will cover the costs of servicing debt iricurred in implementing capital improvements in support of the Mainstreet programme. The cost foir each rateable property in the north is only $7, while commercial properties in Taumarunui with a land value of $50,000 will pay an additional $47.