Long Term Plan investments & projects on the agenda for Council
Published on 24 October 2024
Waitaki District Council Members will be considering the proposals for investment in district services and infrastructure to be included in the draft 2025 - 34 Long Term Plan at next Tuesday’s meeting of Council.
This year Council opted to produce an Enhanced 2024 – 25 Annual Plan, rather than a ten-year Long-Term Plan.
The option to delay the Long-Term Plan was offered by the Government to give them the time to begin to introduce and pass legislation relating to water services, and set out their funding intentions in the 2024-27 Land Transport Programme.
In this year’s Enhanced 2024 – 25 Annual Plan, Council outlined the infrastructure and affordability challenges that Waitaki faces.
In the Long-Term Plan 2025 - 2034, it will be offering a range of potential solutions for the community to consider. This plan will run for nine years, realigning with the legal requirements for Council’s Annual and Long-Term Plans. The project and proposals investment list is divided between Water Services and Council’s other services and infrastructure. This shows that water infrastructure projects account for approximately 30% of all proposed investment to be made in the 2025 – 2026 year, and this increases in future years.
Changes to policy and legislation on water, meaning water services remain with councils for the time being, and other major cost increases have put pressure on all councils’ finances including Waitaki.
Council staff have been working with Councillors to devise a programme of investment that is affordable for the council and community, whilst also making necessary investment to ensure the services, infrastructure and outcomes the district needs. Councillors will consider whether to approve the list as presented, approve a list with changes agreed at the meeting, or to not agree with the list of proposals. If approved, the projects will be part of Council’s Long-Term Plan 2025 – 2034 consultation for the public to submit on, which will then be brought back to Council in 2025 for further consideration by Councillors.
ENDS