Quick finish to long process of draft Long Term Plan stuff.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from stuff.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
“Liveable” assets such as community facilities have not been included in the strategy’s budget, but it did mention significant community projects would likely include renewal of the library ($12m), the Theatre Royal and heritage centre ($23m) and the CBay Aquatic Centre ($30m). However, Dixon said the infrastructure strategy, the financial strategy, and the Long Term Plan (LTP) were based on completing 90 per cent of its budgeted projects within the set timeframe of the next 10 years. Council chief executive Bede Carran noted the goal was “ambitious” as on any given project there could be “unforeseen” delays. “We think it s more transparent and honest to say that 90 per cent would be complete. We don t know which ones might not get there. It s not a particular project, it could be a number of reasons why we can t deliver 100 per cent,” Carran said.
Timaru District Council looks to separate ECan rates demands stuff.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from stuff.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Cr Allan Booth agreed with Piddington. “We haven t got a quantity issue, so why would we restrict our ratepayers. It s a large capital item – and the Government could take it off us – I don t see why we should be burdening our ratepayers earlier.” Council’s group manager for infrastructure Andrew Dixon said metering was not about restricting use of water.
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Timaru District Councillor Stu Piddington at the Timaru District Council meeting on Monday. “It s more about accountability. We can find out the exact demands on our network, there s a lot of good reasons for this,” Dixon said.
Cr Richard Lyon said it was important to let the public have its say. “If we go out on what we budgeted on, and they come back with something different, we will listen. The community will tell us whether we re right or wrong,” Lyon said. “It wouldn t be consultation if we didn t go out with what we generally believe, and listened to what people have to say.”
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Cr Allan Booth raises an issue at the Timaru District Council draft Long Term Plan meeting on Monday. Council chief executive Bede Carran told councillors that staff did consider a one-off increase of 16 per cent with smaller subsequent increases, but decided against it as it would be unfair on current ratepayers and would not necessarily address the issue.