Annual Plan 2011-2012
Two years ago, the Council adopted its primary guidance document, the
Long Term Council Community Plan 2009-19 (LTCCP).
The Annual Plan sets out what ratepayers and residents will pay for the services that Council provides across Marlborough. Our decision-making has been driven by the twin aims of affordability and planning for future needs. We hope we have got the balance right.
Every year most of the Council’s expenditure goes into protecting our existing assets and improving core infrastructure; this year its major sewerage works for Blenheim and Picton.
Maintaining our assets – everything from our beautiful parks and reserves, our vital floodworks, to our extensive water, stormwater, sewerage and roading networks - must always be the priority.
But as well as core infrastructure, the Council funds and manages community amenities and facilities – always looking ahead at the future needs of Marlborough.
Holding down the average rate increase to 3.19% is a very good outcome in the current climate. We have worked hard to achieve this result for ratepayers. It is meant trimming work out of the programme and pushing out timeframes for some projects. We have not been able to fund quite as many community projects as we might have in better times.
But there is plenty of positive news in this Annual Plan; for example, much improved value for money from our waste management and roading contracts and confirmation of the Civic Theatre which means we have the chance to beat the inevitable construction price rises that will flow on from the situation in Christchurch.
Unfortunately the Christchurch earthquake has also had a direct impact on us and every other local authority in the country in terms of insurance costs. The good work we have done pruning expenditure has been largely eaten up by the massive hike in our insurance costs for the year ahead and next year I expect those insurances to be more difficult to absorb.
Nevertheless we have been able to make sure we are delivering the measures we believe are important for Marlborough:
- Completing the important public health measure of upgrading Blenheim’s water supply.
- Beginning the upgrade of Blenheim’s sewerage treatment plant.
- Upgrading water treatment for Awatere residents.
- Completing the new regional aquatic centre at Marlborough Lines Stadium 2000.
- Committing funding to Picton’s Endeavour Park recreational complex.
- Completing a new parking building, a major step toward meeting Blenheim’s future parking needs.
- Assisting the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre with new financing arrangements that potentially open the way to future growth of this world-ranked museum.
- Committing funding to a new Civic Theatre for Marlborough.
- Committing to the strategic purchase of the Queen Street theatre block
- Beginning the Blenheim CBD upgrade.
The last two points have emerged from the town planning project which the Council has been working on since 2008; the most wide-ranging planning project ever to be done in Marlborough. We have now reached the stage where we are beginning to implement the results of this project, “Growing Marlborough”, as and when we can afford to do so.
Our success stories do not always make headlines. For example, Council’s commitment to the Enviroschools programme, teaching our young people to value our resources, means Marlborough has signed on to the programme the greatest proportion of schools of any region in New Zealand. The ‘Edible Garden’ project, originated here, has been adopted by schools across the country. This is a fine example of the Council expending a small sum to achieve big results for the next generation.
Our aim, across everything we do, is to deliver value for money for our ratepayers.
If any member of the public wishes to discuss any aspect of this Plan, a council officer will be more than pleased to meet with you. In the first instance please telephone Judith North, Committee Secretary on 03 520 7400.
View The Documents
Funding Allocations Summary 2011-2012
Funding Allocations Summary 2010-2011