Annual Plan 2023-24

Long Term Plan (LTP) vs Annual Plan - What is the difference?

Every three years, we work with our community to come up with a plan for the future that reflects our shared vision. The result of this collaboration is the Long-Term Plan. It covers the services we provide, how to maintain our district’s infrastructure, and sets-out new projects that will make our district an even better place to live in. As we are now in Year Three of the Long-Term Plan, we will start to engage with you during May to July this year to inform our LTP. We will then consult with you in April 2024 on the 2024-34 LTP.

For the two years between each LTP, Council prepares the Annual Plan that outlines the plans for the financial year ahead and how these plans are going to affect your rates. The budgets set out in the Annual Plan are based on outcomes in the Long-Term Plan.

The purpose of this consultation document is to get input from our residents on the council’s plans and budget for the 2023/24 Annual Plan, including the proposed rates increase.

Consulting now - Rates Increase

For the upcoming Annual Plan 2023-24, Council is proposing a preferred rates rise of 13.18%, which is almost double the projected 6.7 percent rise originally signalled in our Long-term Plan. That is the reason for this consultation with you. Council has looked at this from every possible angle to ensure that our decision is well-informed and in the best interests of the community. This proposed rates rise is necessary to ensure the continued provision of vital services and infrastructure that the community relies on. We believe that we cannot afford to delay action any longer and stepping up investment in our infrastructure and services, and the systems, processes and staff that support them now is crucial to safeguarding the quality of life in our community.

We know that this will be challenging for many. We will be providing a range of opportunities for you to have your say, including community meetings, online feedback forms, and one-on-one meetings. We would like to thank you for your participation in this important consultation process. We look forward to hearing your thoughts and ideas on whether you agree with our approach, whether our priorities are appropriate, and what you consider important. Your input will help us improve our work and better serve our community.

You can find out more about the rates increase,and leave your submission here.

Consulting later in 2023

The following items have been reflected in the Annual Plan based on the information available at the time. However, the details were not ready for consultation as part of the Annual Plan.

Dannevirke Impounded Water Supply

You can have your say and view more information on the Dannevirke Impounded Supply here.

Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrades

You can have your say and view more information on the Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrades here.

What else is going on in 2023

There is plenty more happening across the horizon for Council. While we are not formally consulting on these matters, we do think they are important for our community to understand.

You can view our draft Annual Plan 2023/24 and the Consultation Document in the documents section of this page.

We would love to hear your feedback. Have your say below.