Clutha District Council 2024-34 Long Term Plan Consultation

Every three years we develop a Long Term Plan for our district. The Plan covers the next 10 years (with more detail for the first three), describes the issues facing our communities, what Council is aiming to achieve, how much it will cost, and how it will be paid for.

We have continued to invest in our infrastructure, by way of upgrades, renewals, replacements and new developments, to ensure that we have sustainable and resilient infrastructure. Here is a snapshot of our capital investment and operating expenditure for the past three years.

The reality of cost increases, impacts of inflation, our previous decisions and investment in infrastructure means some dramatic increases for the future.

For decades Council has been successful in managing finances prudently, such that rates increases have stayed below 4%. However, the world has shifted since our last long term plan and our district is facing some really big challenges.

LTP decisions 2024-34

Key decisions for the Clutha District to reduce the average rates increase to about 14% including reducing the scope of work for the Milton Main Street and Balclutha Streetscape upgrades along with trimming the capital works programme were made at the Clutha District Council Long Term Plan decisions hearing meetings held on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday (June 12,13 and 14).

Following a month-long consultation process that resulted in 665 submissions and three days of verbal hearings, Council has made a wide range of decisions about the 10-year plan.

Clutha District Council Mayor Bryan Cadogan said councillors had spent the past three days around the council table going line-by-line to consider over 300 lines for exclusion, deliberating decisions for its Long Term Plan (LTP) 2024-34.

Mayor Cadogan said “following a comprehensive review of the capital works programme we’ve managed to make cost savings of $65.4 million, albeit under sometimes intense discussions. This has brought our initial 20% proposed average rates increase down to 14% for year one of the LTP, while still showing commitment to the overwhelming majority of requests that came through the community submission process.

“I want to thank the people who put their trust in the formal process and assisted council to undertake the appropriate steps required to do the best by the ratepayer in incredibly difficult circumstances.

“The eventual outcome while still containing challenges, reflects the commitment to our district’s vibrant future. I want to thank staff and councillors for prevailing despite unprecedented and unfounded personal attacks.”

He said it had been a challenging time with 3 waters legislative requirements being a big driver for the proposed rates increase.

“The last few days have brought to light the significant cost increase to the Greenfield Water Scheme project which highlights the need to continue to lobby Central Government.

“Many of the outcomes are controlled by Wellington and our ability to genuinely make changes, especially to 3 waters projects, has been challenged due to our inability to negotiate under the present structures that prevail.”

He said Council’s focus would now be on investigating sensible solutions and promoting more sustainable outcomes in the long term for 3 waters in the Clutha District.

Along with a reduction in the rates increase, the overall rates cap for borrowing was also reduced from 25% to 20% in the first three years, and to 10% from 2027 until 2034.

Mayor Cadogan said Council was also able to retain just over $1 million of the $2.4 million in investments that were returned this year, to buffer against future years increases.

The key issues we asked for feedback on:

The following are the key issues that Council want to hear from you about, so that our plans moving forward can be guided by the community.