Mayor & Councillors scale down capital works budget for 2024/25

Published on 17 December 2024

At today’s meeting of Waitaki District Council, the Mayor & Councillors agreed to a reduction of $19,826,377 in borrowing for the remaining financial year.

These reductions were as a result of the Governance Team requesting officers review projects in the 2024/25 Enhanced Annual Plan and those projects carried forward from the 2023/24 Annual Plan, to ensure Council kept to the approved external borrowing from the Enhanced Annual Plan.

The reduction involves the cancellation of two projects – the Southern Harbour Toilet upgrade and the development of a carpark on Humber Street.

Funding requirements for seven projects has also been reduced for this financial year. This includes the Network Waitaki Event Centre, Kakanui Bridge planning and design and water infrastructure upgrades for Oamaru.

There is also recognition that twenty-three capital works projects would not be completed before the end of the 2024/25 financial year and will be reconsidered as part of the upcoming 2025-34 Long Term Plan.

The Holmes Wharf restoration will also be deferred until the Harbour Area Committee has provided a recommendation on the project to Council.

Council will be increasing its contributions towards sealed pavement rehabilitation, sealed road resurfacing, signpost and structure renewal and unsealed road metaling – most of which are co-funded with NZTA. It will also continue with planned investment in emergency generators for water treatment and wastewater treatment plant.

The budget for Developing the Vistor Economy, which has around $300,000 remaining, will be split between the Waitaki Whitestone Geopark with $125,000 and the remaining $175,000 going towards developing new District and Township Gateway Signage.