With consultation now open on Auckland Council’s Annual Budget, Rodney residents are being asked to give their feedback on maintaining rates increases at 3.5 per cent a year, and on proposals such as climate action and waste collection.
Due to on-going impacts of the pandemic on council revenue and growing inflationary pressure, the council is forecasting a budget shortfall of $85 million for 2022/2023 compared to what was budgeted for in the 10-year Budget.
The pandemic has changed the way people live and work and how they use council facilities and public transport. These behavioural changes have financial impacts for the council as revenue from fees and charges reduces. The budget proposes increasing borrowing though within prudent debt-to-revenue limits.
A big change for residents is a proposal to move to a rates-funded region-wide rubbish collection service within three years. Currently, there is no council rubbish collection in Rodney.
The new rubbish collection service will offer a choice of three bin sizes to accommodate different household needs, with a lower charge for smaller bins. Residents in rural areas such Mahurangi and Omaha will still be able to request a supply of a bags. A kerbside food scraps service is planned to roll out across urban areas in 2023.
The budget includes a Climate Action Package that will provide funding to respond to climate change. As part of that, residents are being asked whether they support a targeted rate over the next 10 years.
While the council is not starting from scratch with its climate actions, with an extra $152 million is allocated in the 10-year budget, this isn’t going to be enough to achieve the emissions reduction and climate action goals that have been set.
To help meet the council’s climate commitments, the budget proposes to fund $574 million directly over 10 years and seeks to unlock a further $471 million from government subsidies and other sources.
The council is proposing a climate action targeted rate of $57 a year (or $1.10 a week for the median value residential property worth $1.18 million), rising in line with projected increases in average general rates each year.
The climate proposal would improve transport choice for over one million Aucklanders who will be living within 500 meters of new or improved bus services.
For Rodney that means increasing the frequency of the NX1 from Albany to Hibiscus Coast to every 15 minutes for 12 hours a day, seven days a week. While the Warkworth service from the Hibiscus Coast station is every 20 minutes during peak times.
The proposed rate will also pay for projects to increase capability for walking and cycling and to increase tree canopy cover in communities that need it most.
Consultation on the budget is open until 5pm on 28 March.
Visit akhaveyoursay.co.nz to find out more and ways to have your say.
