A 13.66% rate rise coupled with reduced spending on roads and deferring watewater upgrades are all up for public discussion after the Southland District Council (SDC) released it's Long Term Plan (LTP) 2024-2034 consultation document yesterday (29 May).

Titled 'These are challenging times, Southland Murihiku', the document reflects the difficult decisions the Southland council is facing in an environment of steeply rising costs.

The four key issues within the document are;

A cost-saving option to reduce levels of service on road maintenance while continuing to rebuild the 134 bridges that need to be replaced before 2034. The effect would be that maintenance and resurfacing of some roads would not be done, there would be some reduced speed limits and some low-use sealed roads would revert to gravel.

A proposal to seek extensions of resource consents for some wastewater plants that are coming due for upgrades over the next 10 years, in order to temporarily delay that work to reduce spending within the long term plan (LTP) period. This would help to ease pressure on Council’s borrowing limits.

Deciding on the level of district-wide funding for the Te Anau Airport Manapōuri. There is currently a review of the airport’s operations being undertaken which recommends establishing a more commercial operation for what is considered a district strategic asset. Currently Fiordland community ratepayers are funding the shortfall in revenue required to keep the airport operational.

Feedback is also being sought on several options for glass recycling. Government legislation requires councils to do kerbside collection of glass by 2027.

A proposed average 13.66% rates increase for the 2024/25 year. SDC say the proposed increase is still below the current national average increase of 15%, with most increases across the district ranging from 4% to 13% for residential rates, and from 11% to 17% for rural and business rates.

They say there will be exceptions for individual properties.

The consultation period for the public to give feedback on the LTP runs from 5 June until 5 July, with hearings scheduled on 16-18 July.