All councils will improve cycle ways; $200,000 by Hutt, $250,000 by Wellington to help improve networks including the Great Harbour Way.
Greater Wellington increased its rates by 3.8 per cent.
By Jamie Melbourne-Hayward
After eight months Wellington Councils’ have finalised their long term plans and set rate increases, but there are grumblings over spending on non-essential services in the current economic climate. Criticism has been levelled at council spending on non-core services such as the Korohiwa bus barn, Walter Nash Stadium, Kilbirnie Sports Centre and the Porirua performing arts centre. Past president of the Hutt Valley and Districts Justices of the Peace association M. Laurence Withy says, “It’s farcical the Hutt City Council suggests because they have limited rates to 2.9 percent they are meeting the aspirations of its community”. A recent survey of Hutt residents found the Korohiwa bus barn was the least supported project for rates funding. “The council has since earmarked $2.2million for [the bus barn], which will not be a core service once it has been refurbished in the way a minority of Eastbourne residents want it to proceed. “There will come a time when essential infrastructure will suffer as a result of this non-focused expenditure on cultural, environmental and social spending by our council,” says Mr Withy. Rate increases include; Hutt City 2.9 per cent, Wellington City 3.24 per cent, Porirua City 2.0 per cent and Greater Wellington 3.8 per cent. For comparison, other councils have made the following increases; Dunedin 7 per cent, Hamilton 4.3 per cent, Tauranga 9 per cent, and Kapiti Coast 6.5 per cent. Hutt City Mayor David Ogden says their plan balances the community’s needs while keeping rate increases to a minimum. “We have been able to bring the average rates increase down to 2.9 per cent after asking council officers to find savings in the council budget,” he says. The council will spend over $5 million on sport over the next two years, refurbishing the Korohiwa bus barn will cost $2m, and new CCTV cameras will cost $150 thousand. “The environment and beautification of the city remains a priority, with council budgeting $2.15m during the next 10 years for environmental initiatives and $300,000 for new street trees,” says Mr Ogden.
