NRC adopt new 10 year plan

 

A new 10-year plan outlining Northland Regional Council’s work for the next decade – and how it will be paid for – has been formally adopted by councillors.

Chairman Bill Shepherd says the council received 1278 submissions on its Long Term Plan (LTP) 2015-2025 and also heard from 54 submitters at feedback meetings in Kaitaia, Kerikeri, Kaikohe and Whangarei.

Councillor Shepherd says the LTP was formally adopted by councillors at their full monthly meeting held at Parua Bay on June 16.

He says the finalised document represents vast amounts of work by councillors, staff and submitters and he and his fellow councillors are grateful to everyone for their input.

“Obviously with a document of this size and impact we’re not able to please everyone, but as always, the final result represents an honest and genuine attempt by councillors to collectively strike the right balance between affordability, value for money and ongoing improvement for all Northlanders.”

Councillor Shepherd outlined a number of key decisions such as a five percent increase in targeted region-wide rates (average of $8.68 per rateable unit) over the next 12 months, and a number of flood mitigation initiatives for the Far North.

Most controversial will be the new fully contestable $900,000 emergency services fund. This will cost $11.84 per household and replace the existing emergency services helicopter rate and all other funding from Northland's four councils.

Council will invite and assess applications to this fund through a separate process.