Residents air solar farm concerns P3
Local Folk: Jeanette Grimmer P11
Changing landscapes P27-41
March 4, 2024
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Householders face
hefty Auckland Council rate rises Ratepayers in Auckland face significant increases from July 1 if proposals in a budget consultation document, which is currently out for public feedback, are adopted. Auckland’s Long Term Plan (2024-2034) covers everything from transport, drinking water and stormwater to parks and community, city and local development, environmental management and economic development. It also suggests establishing an Auckland Future Fund to create a more diverse set of investments that can be used to manage future challenges such as global pandemics, extreme weather and environmental challenges. For ratepayers, it will mean a general rate increase of between 5.5% (do-less-payless) and 14% (pay-more-get-more), or a central option of 7.5%, which would add $271 to the average annual rates bill. But the big increase will be in water charges, which are recommended to rise by nearly 26 percent – adding a further $348 to the average household bill annually. This is on top of three city-wide targeted rate charges for natural environment, water quality and climate action, and the Rodney Local Board transport targeted rate. Watercare is also proposing to increase infrastructure growth charges (development contributions) by 25.8 percent. Watercare’s board of directors chair Margaret Devlin says the board had to balance the vital need to invest in new water and wastewater infrastructure – ensuring safe and reliable water and wastewater services for Auckland – with
council’s directives to maintain a debt-torevenue ratio of 340 percent and to ensure that growth funds growth. “We know many Aucklanders are struggling with the cost of living, and we understand the news of this projected price rise will not be welcome,” Devlin says. “We want to reassure them that central and local government are working together to achieve a financially sustainable water model, and we understand their initial conversations have been positive.” Watercare chief executive Dave Chambers says funds raised will help deliver hundreds of projects for Auckland. “This includes completing the Snells Beach wastewater treatment plant and the transfer pipeline, and a major upgrade to the Wellsford wastewater treatment plant,” Chambers says. “We have already reviewed our infrastructure programme and identified projects that we can safely defer in the short term. “However, to ensure we keep providing reliable services now and into the future, it’s still vital to invest $1.257 billion in the coming year, which equates to a daily spend of around $3.44 million.” Chambers says Watercare is on target to achieve around $14 million in operational efficiencies this year, which will be replicated next year. The draft Long Term Plan’s central proposal includes a $13.4 billion investment by Auckland Transport to make public transport faster, more reliable and easier to use. It also includes strengthening
t ckouNikhil Knofrom
A Year 8 student achieved a record-breaking cricket innings for Mahurangi College on February 24, scoring an impressive 233 runs from 130 balls. Nikhil McClintock was playing in his third match for the college Colts team, which is otherwise made up of Year 9 and 10 players, against Rutherford College in Te Atatu. Acting PE head Anthony Koers said McClintock’s outstanding innings included 32 fours and six sixes, and tripled his previous highest score. “To our knowledge, it is the highest score ever posted by a Mahurangi College student,” he said. McClintock was eventually caught out by Safran Chowdhury, but not before scoring a 319-run partnership with Jackson Adams, who batted 61 not out. Mahurangi Colts scored 349 for two off 40 overs, beating Rutherford Boys’ by 265 runs.
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