Marlborough District Council has published its annual report for the 2023/24 financial year, highlighting major progress across key projects which strengthened the region’s infrastructure and resilience.
Mayor Nadine Taylor said the year saw excellent progress on the Marlborough Sounds roading recovery, with the Sounds Future Access Study concluding a successful public engagement process.
“With over 1,700 residents providing direct input, the study led to a business case, with NZTA agreeing to contribute significant portions of the repair and improvement funding required. Key areas benefiting from this investment include the Kenepuru ($94M), Te Aumiti/French Pass ($26M), and Queen Charlotte Drive ($14M).”
“Recognising excellence in public engagement, the Sounds recovery programme won two prestigious awards - one from Emergency Media and Public Affairs and another from the International Association of Public Participation (IAP2) - for the best engagement project in Australasia.”
“The successful rollout of the new kerbside waste and recycling service marked a milestone. The expansion introduced wheelie bins across the region, replacing the old rubbish bags, and five new remote transfer stations were built to improve waste management in rural areas. Another five remote transfer stations are opening this year.”
Water infrastructure remained a focus, with new treatment plants in Renwick and Wairau Valley ensuring a clean, reliable water supply. Additionally, efforts continued to enhance flood protection in Spring Creek, incorporating community feedback into its planning and implementation.
A coastal inundation assessment provided valuable insights into Marlborough’s vulnerability to sea level rise over the next century, informing Council’s future climate change mitigation strategies. The implementation of the East Coast Beach Vehicle Bylaw restricted vehicle access to beaches in order to protect the coast’s delicate ecosystems.
“Te Kahu o Waipuna, Marlborough’s state-of-the-art library and art gallery, earned three prestigious awards, including top honours at the Master Builders Association Commercial Project Awards. The facility’s recognition underscores the exceptional design talent within our region.”
“Further demonstrating Marlborough’s leadership on the national stage, the inaugural WinePRO trade fair, hosted in Blenheim, attracted 1,700 attendees and generated an estimated $780K in economic impact.”
The event showcased New Zealand’s wine technology sector and is set to return in 2026.
“Marlborough’s youth received wonderful inspiration through the annual Future of Work conference, which engaged 2,100 students with industry and education leaders.”
“We also welcomed new chief executive John Boswell who joined Council after a successful military career, reaching the position of Major General and Chief of Army. We are fortunate to secure John for Marlborough and I very much welcome the strategic focus he brings to Council’s structure and planning.”
“My sincere thanks to Mark Wheeler who retired in August 2024 - he was an outstanding chief executive since 2015.”
She said the Council’s dedication to public services is reflected in the continued rise of resident satisfaction, now at 68%, well above the national benchmark of 54%.
“Marlborough continues to do well - despite the challenging national and global economic environment - thanks to the dedication of councillors and staff and the important input of Marlburians and the many, many partner organisations that the Council works with every day.”
“The achievements of the past year reinforce our commitment to building a resilient, forward-thinking and prosperous region.”
This annual report reports against Council’s Long Term Plan 2021-31 and Annual Plan 2023-24. The financial statements show that Council came in ‘on budget’ and net debt was $88M, which is significantly lower than Council’s cap of $230M. Net assets increased to $2.24 billion from $2.11 billion in 2023.
Go to the annual report and summary report on our website
