Kaipara District Council is grappling with compounding inflation and recovery costs.

Elected members continue to work with staff on the draft budgets and work programmes for the Long Term Plan 2024 – 2027 (LTP). At recent briefings, elected members have considered the latest proposed budgets and if any revisions and savings could be made before further work was done on the proposals for public consultation. Consultation for the Long Term Plan 2024 – 2027 is scheduled for 4 April – 4 May 2024.

Mayor Craig Jepson said elected members had asked staff to go through budgets line by line and find different and more efficient ways of doing things. Savings have been made in operational budgets, and deferring capital works. In spite of this, Council was recovering from last year’s extreme weather events, and fighting huge pressure from compounding inflation and interest rates. 

“We’re in the same unenviable position as many other councils around New Zealand, shouldering huge cost increases and trying to balance that with rates affordability for our communities.”

Mayor Jepson said the council “had already made significant reductions and staff have identified a number of efficiencies. We need to do more with less. Reliable roading is a priority for our communities. We intend to complete our recovery repairs and then get on with clearing the backlog of work that’s arisen as recovery repairs took priority.”  

Work will continue on the draft budgets and work programmes up to late March, when the Council will then adopt the consultation document to seek community feedback on proposals in April.

Mayor Jepson says the Council is also juggling debt from Three Waters services, and the need to fund much-needed investment in waters infrastructure.

“The axing of the Three Waters legislation leaves Kaipara with $44 million of debt and the running of these services back on council books, with no indication from central Government for financial relief or support to deliver these services for our communities. We are majorly impacted by this and it’s clear that we cannot burden our ratepayers with the level of investment needed for our three waters services. We will be looking after our current assets and delay some further works.

A long term plan briefing is scheduled for 20 March 2024. The consultation document is currently scheduled to be finalised and adopted at the 27 March Council meeting.

Mayor Jepson urged everyone to provide feedback when consultation opens in April.

“The consultation period is your opportunity to tell is exactly what you think about what we’re proposing for the next three years. So get ready to speak up for Kaipara from the 4 April.”

About the Kaipara District Council’s Long Term Plan for 2024 – 2027

A shortened Long Term Plan with a focus on recovery was approved by Kaipara District Council in September 2023. The decision follows a severe weather emergency recovery order offered by central Government. The order suspends the statutory requirement to produce a ten year audited long-term plan for eight councils severely affected by this year’s weather events. Instead, eight councils, including Kaipara District Council are able to adopt a three-year, unaudited plan with a focus on recovery.

Read more about the decision in our media release (September 2023). 

Sign up to People’s Panel now to receive an invitation to provide feedback as soon as consultation opens in April at kaipara.govt.nz/panel 

Kaipara District Council’s Long Term Plan timeline:

• 4 April 2024 public consultation opens
• 4 May 2024 public consultation closes
• 15 and 16 May public hearings
• 28 May deliberations
• 31 July 2024 Long Term Plan for 2024 – 2027 adopted