Christchurch Ratepayers face 7.47 per cent increase.

[Suezy]

Ratepayers face 7.47 per cent increase
SAM SACHDEVA Last updated 17:13 03/04/201


The Christchurch City Council this afternoon released details of its draft annual plan, with a recommended 7.47 rates rise.

Council chief executive Tony Marryatt said the increase was necessary to help pay for the city's rebuild.

"Given the scale of the task ahead, I believe staff have done a good job of budgeting for a massive rebuild while keeping rates as low as possible,'' he said.

"We've only got a limited pot of money. Insurance coverage only goes so far, and it does not cover bringing our buildings up to new building standards."

The council faced "a huge repair job" on quake-damaged roads and underground services, and had identified 10 major community facilities that needed to be repaired or rebuilt.

These buildings would be brought up to 100 per cent of the new building standards.

"Basically, earthquake repairs will see the council carry out the equivalent of 20 years' worth of standard maintenance work in the coming five years," Marryatt said.

The council would have to borrow to fund the work and pay it off over time, he said. "Fortunately, our debt levels are the lowest per capita of the country's metropolitan centres."

Before the quakes, the council had forecast a 4.19 per cent rates increase.

The proposed 7.47 rise includes a 3.71 per cent increase to cover standard services and projects, the 1.76 per cent earthquake levy approved by councillors last year, and a one-off 2 per cent increase to fund the repair and rebuild of quake-damaged council facilities.

The cost of the emergency responses immediately after the quakes and ongoing repairs to roads, underground services and facilities is estimated at $3.4 billion.

Marryatt said the council's share of the costs, estimated to be $982 million, could be funded by deferring planned projects and using the earthquake levy.

Focus on 10 major community facilities

The council proposes repaying over 30 years the $330m cost of repairs to 10 community facilities that will be required above insurance payments.

Christchurch Town Hall - Options include repairing the existing facility to 100 per cent of the building code or replacing the facility with a new building.

Convention Centre - Options range from constructing a similar building on the same site to building a bigger centre on a new site with a request for financial assistance from the Government.

Christchurch Art Gallery - Te gallery can be repaired to 100 per cent of the new code with additional quake-stabilisation work.

Former AMI Stadium - Options include replacing the existing facility with a like-for-like stadium or building a new facility with different stand-seating configurations.

QE II Park and Centennial Pool - Options include developing a multi-sport hub in the central city and building a community leisure facility on the Queen Elizabeth II Park site or another site

Central Library - The library can be repaired to 100 per cent of new building standards.

Lichfield St car park - The car park can be repaired to 100 per cent of new building standards, with a possible new facade.

Manchester St car park repairs - The car park can be repaired to 100 per cent of new building standards, with a possible new facade.

Sockburn Service Centre - Options include repairing the existing facility to 100 per cent of the new building standards, building a new centre on the existing site or replacing the facility with a larger service centre and library facility in the southwest, bringing forward funding proposed in the 2017 budget.

Draft annual plan timetable

The mayor and city councillors will consider the staff recommendations on April 10 and 11 before adopting a draft annual plan.

Four weeks of community consultation will include a series of open days where people can find out more about the plan and make a submission, as well as community drop-in sessions.

April 10-11 - Draft annual plan adopted by the council at public meetings.

April 20 - Public consultation opens.

May 21 - Public consultation closes.

June 5-9 - Council hearings on public submissions.

June 25-27 - Final annual plan adopted by the council.
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[TokWW]

Not much different up here - about the same % increase in the Waikato too...

[Suezy]

We are in the Selwyn District Council area - and not heard of any increase as yet as not that much damage out this way to infrastructure. - houses yes but that comes under EQC or Insurance.  Mainly the roading was the biggest problem though and railway lines etc.
We grizzle if we get a 3% increase.  This year it is for a swept up large swimming pool at Rolleston and the complaints about that was bad enough - not from me mind you as think all children should learn to swim and for the aged to keep fit and healthy.
The area out this way is mushrooming like you wouldn't believe being more stable land and applications for development is amazing.  No longer a sleepy little hollow unfortunately - where everyone knows everyone else.
Town was hit very very badly and think that what they have as an increase is pretty light under the grave circumstances there.