The number of people Manurewa-Papakura Auckland Councillor Daniel Newman represents is growing almost daily.
The pace of growth in the southern suburbs is so great that it is presenting not only infrastructure challenges but social ones too.
“I was at the Karaka Harbourside Community Group meeting with Papakura Local Board members Brent Catchpole and Sue Smurthwaite and we were celebrating progress on Pararekau Road while at the same time discussing the financial challenges that lie ahead for us all in the wake of COVID-19.
“We all want to see things done but Auckland Council’s ability to make progress is going to depend on the 10-year Budget, now open for submissions, which will have to strike a balance between economic recovery and good financial management.”
Councillor Newman has been a strong advocate of financial restraint, aware of the burden rates place on many in the less affluent areas of south Auckland.
“But there is no point in hiding from it, the 10-year Budget proposes an average 3.5 per cent general rates increase over the decade, but with a one-off 5 per cent increase in the next year that would mean a $1 million urban property’s rates would rise $135 a year.
“We have to address the reality of significant proposed increases in both property rates and water charges, increases that will hurt.”
But he is committed to a budget that provides the region with the ability to continue to invest in core services.
“I need to ensure we can continue to do things like fund improvements to stormwater infrastructure and fund core activities like animal management and environmental health.
“We need to keep building water infrastructure and I certainly don’t want to see the water pipeline disasters we have seen in Wellington happening in Auckland too.
“I will be voting to pass a budget to maintain local services and renew assets but there are some difficult conversations ahead about some activities I think we could discontinue as well as assets that we could sell.”
Consultation on the budget is open until 22 March and Councillor Newman say it’s important southern voices are heard.
“I’d urge residents to get involved and tell us what is important to them at a time when we need to be mindful of the need to keep costs as low and fair as possible for ratepayers. We all hear the demands to 'get on with it', but tough choices are going to be a feature of our budget discussions.”
Have Your Say
For more information visit akhaveyoursay.nz/recoverybudget
