Councillors adopt QLDC annual plan

Queenstown Lakes District Councillors voted to adopt the final 2022-2023 Annual Plan at last Thursday’s Full Council meeting, boosting investment in climate and biodiversity action in response to feedback from the community.

The plan was amended to reflect external and internal submissions after community consultation, public hearings and deliberation on the draft plan earlier this year.

“Councillors approved an increase to the budget allocated in the draft plan to the Climate and Biodiversity Plan of $420,000, and an additional $200,000 for the QLDC workforce review implementation,” QLDC General Manager Finance, Legal & Regulatory Stewart Burns said.

“This nudges the average rates increase for the forthcoming annual plan above our self-imposed limit of 6% to 6.5%.

“In making their decision, elected members acknowledged the scale of the challenge in addressing the local effects of climate change and biodiversity loss, and also in ensuring that Council is structured in the most effective way to continue implementing its largest-ever Ten Year Plan,” Mr Burns said.

Other significant changes to the draft plan (shown in detail on page 40 of the plan document) include an additional $563,000 for field development at Wānaka Showgrounds, $814,000 for Whakatipu sports field improvements and $3.1M additional capital budget for the new youth and community centre at the former Mitre 10 building in Wānaka. These changes were offset by overall reductions in the capital budget for the 2022/23 year of $23.8M

Councillors also confirmed a total of $200,000 in grants to community groups that applied as part of the consultation process.

“Council grants this year will benefit 16 individual not-for-profit groups that fulfil a broad range of valuable services to our community, including conservation, mental health support, active transport and the voluntary sector,” Mr Burns said.

The largest grant of $40,000 went to Shaping Our Future Inc, while Bike Wānaka and the Upper Clutha Tracks Trust each get $21,000, and the Glenorchy Trails Trust and the Lightfoot Initiative Charitable Trust each receive $20,000.

During the consultation period for the draft Annual Plan between 21 March and 25 April Council received 138 submissions, 24 of which were solely QLDC community grant applications.

In addition to a breakdown of budgets, rates allocation and community grants, the Annual Plan highlights the progress made on major capital projects such as Queenstown Town Centre Street Upgrades and Arterial Road (Stage 1), and Wānaka Lakefront Development. Copies are available at Council offices, libraries and also via the QLDC website.

ENDS|KUA MUTU.

QLDC Media contact: communications@qldc.govt.nz or call 03 441 1802.

FURTHER INFORMATION | KĀ PĀROKO TĀPIRI:

The QLDC 2022-23 Annual Plan can be viewed online at www.qldc.govt.nz/your-council/council-documents/annual-plans 

The following QLDC community grants were approved as part of the 2022-23 Annual Plan:

• Bike Wānaka - $21,000;

• ChildPlayWorks Charitable Trust - $2,000;

• Citizens Advice Bureau - $5,000;

• Friends of Bullock Creek Inc. - $10,000;

• Glenorchy Heritage and Museum Group - $5,000;

• Glenorchy Trails Trust - $20,000;

• Happiness House Trust - $10,000;

• Hāwea Community Association - $8,000;

• Volunteer South | Kaitūao o te Taitonga - $10,000;

• Queenstown Harvest Community Gardens - $5,000;

• Shaping Our Future Inc. - $40,000;

• Southern Lakes Branch – New Zealand Deerstalkers Association - $6,500;

• Southern Wellbeing Trust - $13,000;

• Te Kākano Aotearoa Trust - $3,500;

• The Lightfoot Initiative Charitable Trust - $20,000;

• Upper Clutha Tracks Trust - $21,000.

138 submissions were received during community consultation on the draft Annual Plan; the percentage of respondents by ward was as follows:

• 50% Wanaka;

• 32% Queenstown-Wakatipu;

• 4% Arrowtown;

• 14% Other.

A breakdown of responses on the key issues were as follows:

• Climate Change and Biodiversity Funding – 48% were in support of increasing the budget todeliver the actions in the Climate and Biodiversity Plan, 25% neutral, 27% opposed.

• Increase in resource and building consent fees – 51% neutral, 28% supportive, 21% opposed.

• Increase in sport and recreation fees – 39% neutral, 35% supportive, 26% opposed.

• Increase in waste services fees – 45% neutral, 35% supportive, 20% opposed.

• Three-tier structure for film permits – 53% neutral, 39% supportive, 8% opposed.

• Proposed adjustment to the rating differentials as outlined in the section ‘Mitigating theImpact of Revaluation on Rates’ – 69% neutral, 24% supportive, 7% opposed