Waipa confirms lower rate rise
30 June 2015Waipa district ratepayers will pay an average annual rates increase of two per cent over the next 10 years.
Council adopted the 10-Year Plan today (Tuesday, June 30), dropping the average annual rates increase from the 2.3 per cent originally proposed. The drop has been largely driven by new growth figures which suggest Waipa's population will reach 75,000 by 2063.
Councillors made a number of changes to their original 10-Year Plan proposals following public feedback, including reducing the initial impact of a new Uniform Annual General Charge (UAGC). Nearly 500 submissions on the draft plan were received.
Today's decision formalised Council's support for an upgrade to Te Awamutu's water supply plus council contributions to a new pool in Cambridge and museum for Te Awamutu. Both the museum and pool are dependent upon community fundraising.
Around $2.7 million has been budgeted for cycleways and walkways. There has been $500,000 budgeted each year for sealing unsealed roads.
Cr Vern Wilson was the only elected member to vote against adoption of the Plan.
More detail on the council's 10-year Plan is at www.futurewaipa.co.nz.
Media enquiries, contact Jeanette Tyrrell (on behalf of council) 027 507 7599