tairŌwhiti kĀkiri tairĀwhiti first!while these may seem like separate and unrelated topics they...

2015-2025 CONSULTATION DOCUMENT

HE KOHINGA KŌRERO

TAIRĀWHITIFIRST!

TAIRĀWHITI KŌKIRI

Have your sayby 17 April

TE TIKANGA

THE POINTWhat’s a long term plan?A plan that sets out our community’s future for our places, environment and assets; and how we’re going to pay for these in the next 10 years.

We recheck our plan every 3 years with the community to make sure we’re still on track.

We want a plan that:• reflects your vision for our

district• grows our district• makes it happen

What you told usIn 2014, during our ‘Let's Talk’ campaign, we asked what you wanted to see in the plan - what vision you have for Tairāwhiti. You told us to:• Keep rates low • Enhance our natural

environment and improve the quality of our waterways and coastal areas

• Continue to deliver improvements to community infrastructure

• Make our public places unique

• Keep doing the basics right

CONTENTS Financial Strategy p3

Place Making p5

Environmental Priorities p12

Future Proofing p15

Rates Changes p17

Have your say p21

Auditor’s note p22

01LONG TERM PLANConsultation 2015

Help shape the final planWe want to know what you think of our proposed plans. Are we on the right track?

Have your say on the direction of your district:• Make a submission.• Come to a community meeting

(see the calendar on pg 21).

What you think matters.

TE MĀHERE

THE PROPOSED PLANTogether TairāwhitiTena koutou

We are delivering on some big plans to make Tairāwhiti the first choice for people and lifestyle.

Since the last plan we have finished (or nearly finished) some of the projects mentioned in it; Cenotaph repairs, building the new War Memorial Theatre, completing the Waikanae, Kaiti, Wainui and Alfred Cox cycleways and starting on Te Oneroa cycle and walkway from Grey St to Midway Surf Club.

Every three years Council looks to the long-term future and we review our vision and plans for the next 10 years.

The plan before you includes some projects we’ve talked about before and are now entering the next stage in their creation; building the Navigations walkway in the Inner Harbour, extending the library, rebuilding Council offices, more cycleways and planning on a major refit of the Olympic Pools.

On top of all that, we’re continuing to work with you to create healthy and vibrant communities that celebrate our heritage, culture and our way of life.

Here's some of the things we propose to do in this plan:

We’re looking to maximise the beauty of our city with good maintenance and a continual upgrade process of our rural towns.

02

You want us to go to the next level with wastewater and freshwater management and planning for best ways to keep the balance between development and protection of the environment – and we do too.

This year for the first time we have also included a view of what our infrastructure requirements might be in 30 years’ time; preparing better for the next generation.

All through the plan is an emphasis on wise use of funds and ensuring that we do things as smartly as possible.

While these may seem like separate and unrelated topics they are all in fact related to Council’s desire to celebrate, support, protect and create a unique and prosperous region that we are all proud to call home.

This is our proposed starting point, we welcome not just your feedback on the plan – we are open to new ideas and encourage your participation in planning our future together.

Mayor Meng Foon and Chief Executive Judy Campbell

Gisborne District Council

PROPOSED FINANCIAL STRATEGY

1. Minimise and smooth rates increasesWe want to smooth rates increases and keep total increases at 2% for the next 3 years and no higher than 3% until 2025. It means we would collect $80m less in total rates over ten years compared to the increases we planned in the last 10 Year Plan.

How we did it?

We looked at how we can be smarter, do things easier, make savings and still make things happen.

We reviewed our priorities and focused on some key areas for change – like major projects, regulatory services, parks and reserves and our IT systems.

We reviewed our debt and interest cost and depreciation on our assets.

We looked at our activity income levels to see if they could grow.

We have funds built up from previous years that we can put towards special one-off projects to help reduce the rates required.

We’ve also been reviewing our commercial operations structure.

TE TONO RAUTAKI PŪTEA

03 LONG TERM PLANConsultation 2015

2. Keep debt levels lowWe will keep our total debt (internal and external) under $80m.

External debt – the money we owe to the banks – we’ll keep this under $55m to pay less interest.

$55m is a good safe level of debt for a council of our size.

Internal debt –is the debt we borrow internally from other activities and reserves to fund some projects. This helps us keep external debt low rather than borrowinf from banks.

Generally we’ll aim to reduce dependency and use funds for their original intended purpose.

Council borrows money to fund some of our major projects. This spreads the costs of paying for our assets over a longer period so that people who use them in the future are also helping to pay for them.

We’ll also look to attain grants and donations to contribute towards projects, to keep debt levels low.

We are always trying to balance what we can achieve with what our community can afford. Keeping our services and activities affordable is our main focus when we’re developing our financial strategy, budgets and reviewing rates. We discussed financial strategy in the "Let's Talk" campaign in August 2014, let us know if we're on the right track.

There are 6 key directions we propose in our financial strategy:

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025

$m

EXTERNAL DEBT INTERNAL DEBT

38

47

54 54 5551 52

4842

35

35

29

22 22 2226 28

3136

40

7376 76 76 77 77

80 79 7875

TOTAL DEBT


WE ARE WORKING SMARTERWe formed ‘Tairāwhiti Roads’, a partnership

with NZ Transport Agency, to jointly manage and share cost for roading projects.Read the Financial Strategy on our website

www.gdc.govt.nz/LTP-2015

Do you support our financial strategies?

3. Improving our rating systemWe’ve completed a major review of our rating system and policies to make rates simpler, more predictable and consistent.

The changes to how we rate will focus on being fair, taking into account the services and activities that benefit everyone in the district and those that only benefit certain groups of ratepayers.

We’ve clustered and condensed some of our rates and we’re treating infrastructure (like flood control) as whole networks.

We’re also proposing rates remissions that will help reduce rates for some ratepayers.

Read about the changes to rates and remissions from p17.

4. Increasing income from other sources• Attracting more government and grant

funding.• Subsidy increases for roading projects in the

long term (yr 4+).• Increasing earnings from our commercial

operations and investments – the holiday park, testing station, the farms and forestry blocks.

• Partnering with communities, government agencies, iwi and runanga to deliver projects and services and reduce costs.

• Increasing metered water rates for commercial and extraordinary users.

5. Deliver our services smarterWe’re working smarter with your money and will deliver the essential services and activities to standards that meet your needs. We’re investing in new technology to work more efficiently.

We’ll invest and maintain the assets (pipes, roads, playgrounds etc) we have. Read about our Urban Development Strategy on p16.

6. Supporting prosperity in our regionBy supporting the growth of our people and economy we can help improve our community’s ability to pay for rates.

We are:• Continuing to co-fund the district’s new

economic development agency - Activate Tairāwhiti.

• Continuing to support tourism and city centre promotion.

• Providing business and community friendly infrastructure, facilities and public spaces.

• Rates remissions to encourage businesses to expand and grow.

• Supporting the productivity of Māori freehold land.

• Progressing better resource and building consent processes.

TOTAL RATES $m(LTP 2015 - 2025)

TOTAL RATES $m(Previous LTP 2012 - 2022)

TOTAL RATES % INCREASE

TOTAL RATES $m % INCREASE

$3m $4.9m $4m $11.9m

YR1 YR2 YR3 YR4 YR5 YR6 YR7 YR8 YR9 YR10 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

$1.1m $0.2m $1.3m

$5.5m

$4.6m

$1.1m

0

$1.3m

$4.7m

$22m

$11.7m

0

$2.2m

$3.5m

$1.1m

$9.5m $0.2m $9.7m

$4m

$2.4m $7m $9.4m

$22.3m

$0.7m $10.5m $0.8m $12m

$4.4m $8.2m$3m $0.8m

$10m $10.5m$0.5m

<$1m $1m - $4m >$4m

These projects are key safety priorities, like earthquake strengthening or �ood control Timeframes and scope may change dependent on available grant funding This project is to help us comply with our consents

*Committed Major Projects - Projects that have been previously consulted on and substantial grant funding has been committed. *Council Funding means funded by rates, loans or reserves

*COMMITTED MAJOR PROJECTS

PROPOSED MAJOR PROJECTS

$1.7m

$2.6m

*Council Funding


PLACE MAKINGProposed plans to make our place awesomeWe're making progress towards completing a number of our big ticket projects and making our place awesome, with a lot more work to do. Some of these projects we've talked about before, in the previous Ten Year Plan and annual plans. You also told us during the "Let's Talk" campaign in August 2014, what you wanted to see in our community. Here's our proposed plans and the estimated costs, tell us if we're on the right track.

TE WHAKATAU WĀHI

KEEP, REDUCE, DELAY OR FAST TRACKAny changes to what we spend on major projects could affect the total proposed

rates increase (of around 2% for most properties). If you want to fast-track a project, this would mean a higher rates increase. Delaying, reducing or cutting council funded projects, would result in lower rates than proposed. We would

need to cut around $6m worth of council's funding to save approx. 1% in rates.


Core BusinessWe’re still proposing to maintain our core capital assets - renewing our pipes, footpaths and local roads, keeping up our public toilets and parks, and thorough ongoing maintainence of our CBD and community hubs.

What we propose to spend 2015 - 2025

Working with sports codes and trusts to optimise use of our sports grounds.

More local art in our spaces.

THE FIRST GIGATOWN (ALMOST)A massive effort that literally connected our entire community through

technology, saw our digital strategy judged the best but Gisborne missing out on the top prize. We are putting plans for digital success into action, driven by

Activate Tairawhiti, already partnering with Unitec to establish a MindLab

$184m $95m

CORE BUSINESS MAJOR PROJECTS

(capital) (capital)

Community ProjectsWe’re also proposing to redirect resources towards helping communities improve our spaces and have more participation in how public places, reserves and parks are used and improved.

PLAYGROUND UPGRADESWe’ll be continually keeping neighbourhood parks up to good standards and we’re proposing to upgrade a small number of ‘destination playgrounds’ with a variety of good quality play equipment and amenities– starting with the Botanical Gardens.

$184m $95m

CORE BUSINESS MAJOR PROJECTS

(capital) (capital)Working with tangata whenua to maintain the local values of our places.

CORE PROJECTS

MAJOR PROJECTS

TE WHAKAATU I TE ROHE

SHOWCASING OUR REGIONWe are committed to the Tairāwhiti Navigations project that will celebrate the historical and cultural significance of Māori and European navigational stories, first contact and settlement.

The project includes:• A magnificent walkway that runs down the training wall in the middle of the Turanganui River• Infrastructure to create networks of walkways connecting our beaches and rivers with our

city centre, Titirangi reserve, museum and monuments.• Traditional elements, local art and stories forming a heritage trail across sites.• Making our unique culture and heritage more vibrant and accessible to people.• Enhancement to the landscape and streetscape of our city and Inner Harbour.• Over time, plans will extend to our other significant places in our region.

We’re preparing to showcase our region to the world for Te Hā 2019; the 250th commemorations of Captain James Cook landing in Aotearoa and the first contact between Māori and European in 1769.

TRAINING WALL WALKWAYFunding is secured and strengthening is underway with Eastland Community Trust contributing $5m and Eastland Group $1.6m to help make it happen.



TE WHENUA RĀHUI O TITIRANGI

TITIRANGI RESERVEThe revitalisation of Titirangi Reserve marks our commitment to enhancing the natural and cultural values of one of our city’s most iconic taonga (treasures).

Our partnership with Ngāti Oneone is at the fore of the plan to manage and we're proposing to restore the essential qualities of the reserve by:• Harvesting the pines. • Re-planting with natives.• Creating new habitats to bring back native

species.• Enhancing cultural heritage sites. • Enhancing pathways and viewing points.

DID YOU KNOW?The harvest operation, which is unique in an urban area, will aim to minimise

disturbance to the land.

We plan to collaborate with iwi and the community in: • Actively participating in design and re-planting.• Respecting and celebrating sites of cultural and

historical significance.• Guiding how the reserve is used and enjoyed.• Promoting kaitiakitanga (guardianship) and

pride in our city’s largest landmark.

The restoration links to the beginnings of the Navigations project to be completed in time for Te Hā 2019.

BLOCK TO BE HARVESTED

TITIRANGI DRIVE

NORWOOD RD

QUEENS DRIVE

WA

LLIS RD

ENDCLIFFE RD

CAMBRIDGE TERRACE

OXFORD ST BATY ST

OMAN ST

ENDCL

IFFE

RD

YORK

ST

BELFAST CRES

RANFURLY ST LON

DO

N S

T

GLASGOW CRESBART

ON

ST

CRAWFORD RD

PARA

U S

T

KAITI BEACH

RD

WAINUI RD

30

30

30

30

3030

Road Closed

Reduce Speed

Car Park

TRANSFORMING PLACESOlympic Pools UpgradeOur pools were built 40 years ago and we need to renew the old infrastructure.

We’re proposing to allocate $10.5m for the redevelopment and will apply for grants to fund it.

Over the next 2 years we plan to consider what’s needed to run the pools more efficiently and what features to include that cater to all users.

The community can help decide what those plans are and we’ll consult on the final design in 2017.

In the meantime we still need to provide a good public pool, so we’re going to keep maintenance up and integrate any repairs we do with what’s needed for the final upgrade starting in 2018.

Council RebuildWe looked at options for our earthquake prone admin building and found the cost to strengthen was about the same as the cost to rebuild it completely.

A new build would allow more local elements to be reflected in the design, and to build a smaller, single-storey building that uses less energy to run, reducing our projected operating costs by around $30m over a 50-year life span.

We’ve budgeted $9.7m to complete the project by 2019 and are proposing to fund this through external income sources.

Library UpgradeYou’ve already told us the HB Williams Memorial Library is a widely used, very important asset for our community, but the current size limits the activities and services you want more of.

We have committed $3.5m to extend the building and refurbish it to include new spaces for books, meeting rooms and study areas, more space for youth and children’s learning activities and resources.

Redevelopment of the bigger, better library will start later in 2015 made possible thanks to generous contributions from the community including the estates of Stanley Green, Hannah Dunlop and Jessie Iris Jeffreys.

TE WHAKAUMU WĀHI


Do you think we’re making good investments in our community assets?


LEGEND

THE GISBORNE URBAN AREA ANDOUR ACTIVE TRANSPORT NETWORK

GLADSTONE RD

WAINUI RD

RUTENE RD

CHILDERS RD

ORMOND RD

LYTT

ON RD

STAN

LEY R

D

123

4

5

6

SH2 SAFETYIMPROVEMENTS

LINK TO RERE FALLS TRAIL

LINK TO

TE KURI A PAOA

SH35 SAFETY

IMPROVEMENTS

Protected Cycle & Walkway | 6 Year

Protected Cycle & Walkway | Long Term

Existing Cycle & Walkway

Onroad Cycle & Walkway | 6 Year

Onroad Cycle & Walkway | 12 Year

Protected Cycle & Walkway | 12 Year

State Highway

Urban Area

123456

Library Upgrade

OTHER MAJOR PROJECTS

Lawson Field Theatre Upgrade

Municipal Building Rebuild

Tairawhiti Navigations

Titirangi Restoration

Olympic Pool

Proposed Option (a) Cycleway | 6 Year

Proposed Option (b) Cycleway | 6 Year

You’ve told us cycle and walkways, and safe journeys around our city are a high priority for you and we're continuing to invest in connecting our places.

We're proposing to spend almost $12m over the next ten years building cycle and walkways in stages and finding ways to promote safe use of them.

We’re committed to:• Kaiti/Wainui cycleways

connecting to the city.• Taruheru cycleway extending

to Derby Street and Botanical Gardens.

• Building routes that are protected from traffic where possible.

• Building safer intersections and crossings on routes.

• The ‘Cone’ recreation cycleway at Ruatoria.

• Safe school routes for Tokomaru Bay.

CONNECTING PLACESTE WHAKAHONOA WĀHI

Do you support our plans for

cycle and walkways?

We’re proposing: • Waikanae extension to Te Kuri a

Paoa coming forward in years. • Taruheru extension to Campion

moving out in years.

We want to encourage more people to choose to walk, bike, scoot or skate to get to where they’re going, and connect the spaces we enjoy around our city.

• Allocating $50,000 per year to the ‘Bikes in Schools’ programme for tracks, equipment and education in schools.

• Collaborating to build a Junior ‘Learn to Ride’ Park.

What else?• Possible cycle rail trail Gisborne

to Wairoa.• Feasibility of Okitu to Makorori.

Read about our Active Transport priorities in the Urban Development Strategy at

www.gdc.govt.nz/ltp-2015


RURAL COMMUNITIESWe’re proposing to invest more support and upgrades to infrastructure in our rural communities.

Each township has created a plan in partnership with Council, and we’re proposing to bring all timeframes forward, spending $5.5m over ten years.

We’ll coordinate the major improvements with other activities in our Long Term Plan to be more efficient and cost-effective, and in the meantime we’ll be keeping up a programme of good maintenance throughout every rural community.

NGĀ IWI TAIWHENUA

Do you think we should fast-track our rural community plans?

DATE TOWNSHIP2015 Te Karaka and Whatatutu

2016 Tokomaru Bay

2017 Manutuke and Muriwai

2018 East Cape - Tikitiki, Rangitukia, Wharekahika and Potaka

2019 Patutahi, Tiniroto and Waerenga-o-Kuri

2020 Ruatoria

2021 Te Puia and Waipiro

2022 Matawai and Motu

2023 Tolaga Bay


Meeting the needs of our EnvironmentWe’re planning to put more resources towards better environmental research and monitoring, and into reviewing our Resource Management Act plans.

Working with the community, property owners, Iwi, the Department of Conservation and government ministries, a number of projects and plans are ongoing: • Waiapu Kōkā Hūhua (Waiapu 100yr Restoration).

• Erosion management strategies.• Regional pest management.• Coastal plans, like the Wainui Beach.

Management Strategy.• Hazard planning.• Freshwater plan.• Native forest restorations. • Bio-diversity projects.

ENVIRONMENTAL PRIORITIESNGĀ WHĀINGA TUATAHI O TE TAIAO

Waingake Waterworks Bush Restoration proposed spend $700k over 10 years The 1100 hectares of untouched and regenerated forest at Waingake is a unique area of diversity for tree, plant, bird and animal species as well as the source of the city’s water supply.

Like most forests in the district, Waingake has a huge amount of weed and animal pests that pose a threat to the natural ecology and values of the area.

We’re working to establish an advisory group that will determine what is needed along with Iwi, DoC and the QE2 Trust to find ways to restore the forest and create a sustainable natural habitat to reintroduce native birds and invertebrate.

You’ve made it clear you want us to do more to improve the quality of our waterways and coastal environment. We're proposing to add an average of $1.3m more per year to our operational budget, to improve our ability to safeguard our environment, coastal areas, waterways and other natural resources.

Do you support our move to

invest more in looking after our

environment?

OUR WATERFreshwaterWater is one of our district’s most valuable assets. You expect our waterways to be safe for recreation and food and to have an adequate supply of quality water.

We’re developing our draft Freshwater Plan, that will for the first time set limits for water quality and minimum levels in waterways. We’re proposing to invest more in projects that enhance water quality and ecological health.

What we propose to do in the long-term plan is;• Adopt and implement a Freshwater

Plan for the region.• Work with all land users and industry

on better management of run-off and discharges.

• Implement strategies to address stormwater and wastewater issues.

• Move forward with approaches to monitoring water usage.

• Investigate and implement options for water storage.

• Regulate activities in bird and fish habitats.

NGĀ WAI


Catchment PlansBy working with iwi and community groups who are already actively caring for their rivers, we’re planning what’s needed for each catchment starting with the Waipaoa, Te Arai and Waiapu.

We’ll be able to put plans in place for the Waimata/Turanganui, Uawa and Motu catchments relatively soon over the next few years.

We’ve allocated $225k each year working with landowners and the community on targeted projects to improve water health in hot spot projects like:

The Rere Water Quality Enhancement project is about reducing faecal pathogens in the Wharekopae River to make it safe to swim at the falls and rockslide. We’re aiming to identify the best methods by working with landowners to reduce run-off by 2016.

The Inanga (Whitebait) Spawning Enhancement is working with iwi and communities to protect inanga spawning sites affected by drainage works, de-vegetation and grazing in the Waipaoa and lower Te Arai rivers.

The Taruheru River Restoration will identify ways to reduce nutrients, algae and faecal contamination through projects like riparian planting to improve the health and recreational value of the river by 2035.


Smarter with stormwaterReducing the need to discharge wastewater after heavy rain is a priority for us. We’ve committed $22m over the next 10 years to upgrade and improve Council’s wastewater and stormwater pipes – but more is needed.

Council own and can only fix about 50% of the total network of pipes, the rest relies on private property owners to look after the pipes that run under homes and businesses.

So over the next seven years we are proposing to focus on working with you to prevent stormwater getting into the wastewater system.

We need to make sure rainwater can get to Council’s stormwater drains and pipes, and make sure it doesn’t contain pollutants – these pipes run straight to our rivers, harbour and beaches.

Working together on proper drainage of clean stormwater and regular maintenance of wastewater pipes will reduce the pollutants entering our waterways.

Smarter with wastewaterWe’ve already made huge progress with sending cleaner treated wastewater through the outfall pipe into the bay – but we know there is more we can do.

We set out to improve the quality of our wastewater treatment with a new treatment plant that uses biological filtering, installed in 2010 and we’ve been looking at alternative ways to make the water even cleaner: • Investigating using UV disinfection

as the final stage.• Investigating spreading water onto

a wetland as a natural disinfection stage.

We know a wetland costs less and is more environmentally sustainable, but we need to do some more research to make sure it would be the best option for our community.

We need the next few years to trial and research and will have the options out to you for feedback in 2017. At this early stage we're proposing to set aside $12m to start construction in 2019.

Do you support our plans to reduce

discharges to our waterways?

Our community expects to be safe and our essential services to be resilient and strong. So we’re looking beyond 2025 to identify what the demand on our infrastructure could be and we’re making plans now to prepare for what’s needed.

Resilience to Weather | Waipaoa River Flood Control SchemeThe Waipaoa River Flood Control Scheme has 63kms of stopbanks that protect 11,000 hectares of land and property. The foundations and banks are in good shape with room for improvement to maintain the current level of protection for floods up to the size of a Cyclone Bola type weather event.

Future climate change could mean we get the same amount of rain over a year but at higher intensities with longer periods between events. We can make improvements to safeguard the robustness of the banks that would withstand the most likely scenarios for our climate as far out as 2090.

We propose to go ahead with spending $9.4m over the next 10 years to:• Reform and protect areas with narrow berms and river bank erosion • Increase the width of stopbanks to 4 meters• Increase the height of stopbanks by 0.6m and 0.9m in risk areas • Maintain protection to a ‘1 in 100 year flood’ capacity (Bola size weather event)

Transport in the FutureWe need to make sure our roads remain reliable and affordable.

TE TIROHANGA TŌMUA


OUR ISSUES WHAT WE PROPOSE TO DO

Keeping roads affordable

• Partnering with NZTA to share costs - ‘Tairāwhiti Roads’• Recycling materials, using chip seal where appropriate (50% cheaper)• Keeping the number of sealed roads the same• Using new technologies in infrastructure – LED Lighting

Damage to our roads from heavy vehicles and weather events

• Funding preventative maintenance for state highways and local roads• Improving links for Tauwhareparae, Wairangi and Matahiia Roads • Building resilience in our roads and bridges for heavy vehicles• Proposing to increase the share that forestry pays for maintaining our

roads

Keeping our roads safe

• Prioritising works in high risk, high volume areas• Walking and cycling intersection and route improvements• Implementing safety programmes and education for young drivers,

safe driving

Better transport options

• Promoting walking and cycling strategies• Providing affordable school buses and public transport

Do you support our land

transport priorities for the district ?

Read our draft Regional Land Transport Programme at www.gdc.govt.nz/LTP-2015

FUTURE PROOFING

TE TAU TEKAU - NEKE ATU

BEYOND YEAR TENWe’re looking beyond 2025 to make sure that we’re making the right choices now to suit our infrastructure, urban areas and community spaces in the future.

We’ve created a 30 year infrastructure strategy to determine what issues we might face and what the demand on our roads, pipes and services could be.

We want to keep growing our district in an affordable way so we're proposing to support development of buildings and community assets only within our existing residential boundaries, instead of spreading out and adding to our network – more assets means more money is needed to maintain them.

There’s still enough space in our boundaries and enough capacity in our current infrastructure for us to grow and we’re reviewing changes to our Development Contributions Policy.

Also some housing developments in areas like Makaraka can happen, but may not be supported by say an urban wastewater system.

‘Filling in’ the spaces we already have would allow us to:• Preserve the prime soil in the

flats for horticulture.• Strengthen connections

between the city and waterways.

• Make transport links stronger and efficient.

• Maximise the use of existing infrastructure.

• Strengthen our sense of community identity.

Do you support our strategy to

develop and invest within our existing footprint?

IN 2045...The most likely scenario is that

our population will stay roughly the same with a slightly higher

percentage of older people.


11%

5%

3%

5%

73%

3%

Land and Buildings

Stormwater

Wastewater

Water Supply

Roading

Flood Control

DID YOU KNOWThere’s about $1.9 billion worth of assets that we manage on behalf of Tairāwhiti and we need to plan for what future generations might need.

Go to www.gdc.govt.nz/LTP-2015 to read our draft Infrastructure Strategy and draft Urban

Development Strategy


PROPOSED RATES CHANGES

TE TONO WHAKAWHITINGA TĀKE KAUNIHERA

Types of RatesCouncil has 3 main types of rates:

1. General RatesThese pay for activities that everyone benefits from. How much you pay depends on the capital value of your property.

2. Uniform Annual General Charge (UAGC) Also pays for activities that everyone benefits from. Every ratepayer pays the same amount whether you live in Tolaga Bay, Te Karaka or Wainui – that’s why it is uniform.

We expect the rates on most properties will change from 1 July this year.What you pay on your rates is affected by four factors:

1. The recent revaluation of your property.

2. The review of how rates are set (the draft Revenue and Financing Policy).

3. Changes to the cost of the activities and services we deliver (the budgets).

4. Where your property is located and the services you receive.

Council has done a major review of how your rates are set out, who pays what rates, why you pay and when you pay. We want your views on this!

Some of the proposed changes to rates for consultation are:• Keeping the total average rates increases to 2% for

the next 3 years and no higher than 3% until 2025.

• We’ve condensed our complex system of targeted rates down to 40.

- Land drainage schemes have been consolidated from 19 rates groups down to 2 rates groups.

• We’ve treated roading and drainage schemes more as a network .

• Smoothing rates increases where possible and being open and transparent on why some rates have increased;

- We’ve reviewed the rates remissions available to properties to reduce any large unplanned hikes in rates.

- We’ve increased the roading rates paid by forestry properties to reflect the greater impact the industry has on our road network compared to other sectors of the community.

• Sharing the cost of infrastructure that qualify as being for the good of the district;

- Flood Control Schemes now have a greater general rate for the public benefit they provide, 60% of the costs of these schemes are funded by a general rate based on the capital value of all properties in the district.

These are only some of the changes, for more information check out our website, www.gdc.govt.nz.

These activities – like cemeteries and civil defence, are more related to the existence of a household than the value of the property. If you have two houses you pay two UAGCs.

3. Targeted RatesThink user pays. The largest portion of our rates are based on what services you receive or benefit from – like drainage, local roads and water supply.

If they are available to you in your location, you pay.

Properties were revalued in 2014. Where your property value has increased or decreased more than the average your rates may be affected.


1. Partial Use/ Partial Occupation of Māori Freehold Land.Allows portions of Māori freehold land greater than 2 hectares which are unoccupied to be eligible for rate remission.

2. Development of Māori Freehold Land.We can remit rates on Māori freehold land on a sliding scale where the land is being developed or used and has previously been unused or unoccupied.

Do you support our proposed changes to rates and remissions?

Read about the rates system review process, scenarios put forward and the draft proposal with rates analysis on our website. Read our draft Revenue and Financing Policy at www.gdc.govt.nz/LTP-2015

RATES REBATEA rates rebate scheme is available to low income earners and families. To

see if you’re eligible to apply check out www.gdc.govt.nz/rates-rebate-scheme

To find out how these changes might effect your rates from 1 July 2015, check the rates comparison tool at www.gdc.govt.nz

3. Transitional Rate remission.We can remit rates on properties that have significant rates increases due to rating changes in the Revenue and Financing Policy, if they meet the criteria.

4. Pest and Plants, Rural Fires and Soil Conservation.Allows remission of rates for these activities to continue for certain properties already receiving this remission in 2014/15.

No of Properties

PERCENTAGE OF RATES MOVEMENTS

RATES REMISSIONSRemissions allow Council to

give rates relief to ratepayers in specific circumstances as long

as certain criteria is met.

New Proposed Rates Remissions.Four policy changes are proposed for your comment:


RATES EXAMPLES

NGĀ TAUIRA TĀKE KAUNIHERA

RESIDENTIAL | GISBORNE URBAN AREANEW VALUATION2014

PROPOSED RATES2015/16

PREVIOUS VALUATION2011

PREVIOUS RATES2014/15

RATESCHANGE

$1,475,000 4,427 $1,550,000 4,408 0.4%

$1,270,000 4,663 $1,120,000 4,180 12.0%

$960,000 3,497 $1,045,000 3,509 -0.3%

$820,000 3,480 $970,000 3,775 -7.8%

$785,000 3,241 $795,000 3,166 2.4%

$690,000 3,223 $820,000 3,427 -6.0%

$571,000 2,850 $568,000 2,794 2.0%

$485,000 2,216 $500,000 2,146 3.3%

$330,000 2,478 $340,000 2,445 1.3%

$320,000 1,864 $330,000 1,791 4.1%

$246,000 2,315 $265,000 2,305 0.4%

$193,000 2,228 $198,000 2,206 1.0%

$117,000 2,063 $128,000 2,048 0.7%

RESIDENTIAL | RURAL TOWNSHIPNEW VALUATION2014




RATESCHANGE

$192,000 1,406 $210,000 1,380 1.9%

$115,000 1,360 $115,000 1,265 7.5%

$100,000 1,130 $118,000 1,131 -0.1%

$82,000 1,104 $94,000 1,093 1.0%

$51,000 1,129 $54,000 1,045 8.0%

$47,000 1,663 $47,000 1,693 -1.8%

RESIDENTIAL | RURAL LIFESTYLENEW VALUATION2014




RATESCHANGE

$415,000 1,690 $420,000 1,725 -2.0%

$370,000 1,923 $395,000 1,905 0.9%

$336,000 1,381 $355,000 1,408 -1.9%

$158,000 1,157 $162,000 1,122 3.1%

$116,000 975 $122,000 954 2.2%

(If the proposed budgets and policies are approved)


COMMERCIAL | GISBORNE CITYNEW VALUATION2014




RATESCHANGE

$10,930,000 55,449 $9,770,000 49,315 12%

$1,365,000 7,971 $650,000 6,838 17%

$335,000 2,838 $335,000 2,816 1%

$78,000 1,823 $85,000 1,833 -5%

COMMERCIAL | RURAL TOWNSHIPNEW VALUATION2014




RATESCHANGE

$905,000 3,381 $1,050,000 3,664.00 -8%

$183,000 1,453 $183,000 1,437.00 1%

$60,000 1,001 $60,000 958.00 4%

COMMERCIAL | RURAL FARMINGNEW VALUATION2014




RATESCHANGE

$3,770,000 11,076 $3,460,000 10,657 3.9%

$2,115,000 7,125 $2,100,000 7,401 -3.7%

$1,640,000 6,889 $1,650,000 6,856 0.5%

$1,088,000 4,744 $996,000 4,189 13.2%

$975,000 4,327 $1,025,000 4,194 3.2%

COMMERCIAL | RURAL FORESTRYNEW VALUATION2014




RATESCHANGE

$10,145,000 55,28 $9,845,000 46,764 18%

$3,610,000 22,579 $3,770,000 20,193 12%

$1,490,000 8,730 $1,520,000 7,832 11%

$75,000 1,155 $83,000 1,092 6%

Highlighted text in Rates Change is at 2% or less.

KŌREROTIA ŌU AKE WHAKAARO

HAVE YOUR SAYWe want your help to shape the future of our district, so make sure you tell us what you think of our plan.

Full copies of the Draft Long Term Plan 2015 – 2025 and proposed strategies are available at www.gdc.govt.nz or pick up copies from Council offices 15 Fitzherbert Street, Gisborne or Te Puia Springs Service Centre, HB Williams Memorial Library or the Olympic Pools.

See our submission form for ways you can tell us what you think. Come along to a community meeting with the Mayor, councillors and staff to hear our plans and talk to us.

Or tell us what you think on social media using the hashtag #GizzyLTP. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter or Instagram.

COMMUNITY MEETINGS CALENDAR

16 MARCH 212018

27

040301 APRIL31

06 1009

1816

19WAIMATA 6pmWaimata Community Hall

17 WAIPIRO BAY 5pmIritekura MaraeTOKOMARU BAY 7pmThe Haven, Senior Citizens Hall

23TIKITIKI 3.30pm Tikitiki RSARUATORIA 6pmUepohatu Marae

28KAITI 10.30amKaiti Mall

26MANUTUKE 6pmManutuke SchoolPATUTAHI 7.30pmPatutahi Hall

25WAINUI 5.30pmWainui School

24ELGIN 12pmTe Wananga o AotearoaGISBORNE CITY 6pmHB WIlliams Memorial Library

30MATAWAI 6pmMatawai Fire Brigade Rooms

02WHANGARA 5pm Whangara SchoolTOLAGA BAY 6.30pmTolaga Bay Fire Station

11GISBORNE CITY 9.30amFarmers Market

08WHATATUTU 5.30pmWhatatutu MaraeTE KARAKA 7.30pmTe Karaka Scout Hall

07MURIWAI 6pmMuriwai Marae

13HICKS BAY 4.30pmHinemaurea MaraeTE ARAROA 6.30pmEastcape Hunting & Fishing Club

17TINIROTO 5.30pmTiniroto Community HallWAERENGA-O-KURI 7.30pmWaerenga-o-kuri Community Hall

15MAKAURI 5.30pmMakauri School Library

14

MONDAY SATURDAYFRIDAYTHURSDAYWEDNESDAYTUESDAY

SUBMISSIONS CLOSE 17 APRIL 2015This is your chance to have your say on the future of our district!21 LONG TERM PLAN

Consultation 2015

Chartered Accountants

1 The International Standard on Assurance Engagements (New Zealand) 3000 (Revised): Assurance Engagements Other Than Audits or Reviews of Historical Financial Information and The International Standard on Assurance Engagements 3400: The Examination of Prospective Financial Information.

To the reader:

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT ON GISBORNE DISTRICT COUNCIL’SCONSULTATION DOCUMENT FOR ITS PROPOSED 2015/25 LONG-TERM PLAN

I am the Auditor-General’s appointed auditor for Gisborne District Council (the Council). Section 93C of the Local Government Act (the Act) requires an audit report on the Council’s consultation document. I have carried out this audit using the staff and resources of Ernst & Young. We completed this audit on 12 March 2015.

Opinion

In my opinion:

the consultation document provides an effective basis for public participation in the Council’s decisions about the proposed content of its 2015/25 long-term plan, because it:

fairly represents the matters proposed for inclusion in the long term plan, and

identifies and explains the main issues and choices facing the Council and Gisborne, and the consequences of those choices; and

the information and assumptions underlying the information in the consultation document are reasonable.

Basis of Opinion

We carried out our work in accordance with the Auditor-General’s Auditing Standards, relevant international standards and the ethical requirements in those standards.1

We assessed the evidence the Council has to support the information and disclosures in the consultationdocument. To select appropriate audit procedures, we assessed the risk of material misstatement and the Council’s systems and processes applying to the preparation of the consultation document.

Responsibilities of the Council and auditor

The Council is responsible for:

meeting all legal requirements relating to its procedures, decisions, consultation, disclosures, and other actions associated with preparing the consultation document and long-term plan;

having systems and processes in place to provide the supporting information and analysis the Council needs to be able to prepare a consultation document and long term plan that meet the purposes set out in the Act; and

Ensuring that any forecast financial information being presented has been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting practice in New Zealand.

I am responsible for reporting on the consultation document, as required by section 93C of the Act. I do not express an opinion on the merits of any policy content of the consultation document.

Independence

We have followed the independence requirements of the Auditor-General, which incorporate those of the External Reporting Board. Other than our work in carrying out all legally required external audits, Trustee reporting and accounting advice we have no relationship with or interests in the Council or any of its subsidiaries.

Marcus HenryErnst & YoungOn behalf of the Auditor-General, Wellington, New Zealand

22

15 Fitzherbert Street, Gisbornephone 06 867 2049

freephone 0800 653 800email [email protected]

web www.gdc.govt.nz

Submission Form What do you think? He aha ōu whakaaro?

YOUR SUBMISSION

All submissions, including your name and details will be included in public documents. For your submission to be valid, you must include your full name, a postal address and/or email address. Please ensure you provide a contact phone number if you wish to speak at a hearing. A full copy of the Draft 2015-2025 Long Term Plan can be found on our website www.gdc.govt.nz/LTP-2015 for your information.

First Name: Last Name:

Postal Address:

Suburb: Postcode:

Organisation: (if applicable)

Phone: (day) (mobile)

Email:

The following information is optional and is gathered for statistical purposes only. It will be used to analyse the representation of submitters and will remain confidential to Council staff.

AGE: under 12 12-24 25-40 41-60 61-74 75+

GENDER: male female ETHNICITY: _____________________________________________

YES NO COMMENTDo you support our proposed changes to ratesand remissions?

Do you think we are making good investmentsin our community assets?

Do you support our plans for cycle and walkways?

Do you think we should fast-track our ruralcommunity plans?

Do you support our move to invest more in looking after our environment?

Do you support our plans to reduce discharges in our waterways?

Do you support our land transport priorities for the district?

Do you support our strategy to develop and invest within our existing footprint?

Do you support our financial strategies?

Submissions Close: 4pm Friday, 17 April 2015

OFFICE USE ONLY:

Date: ............................................................

Submission# ..........................................

ID# ................................................................

FOLD

OFFICE USE ONLY:

Date: ............................................................

Submission# ..........................................

ID# ................................................................

FREEPOST 65Draft 2015-2025 Long Term Plan Attention: Planning and PerformanceGisborne District CouncilPO Box 747GISBORNE 4040

SEAL ALONG HERE

SEAL

ALO

NG H

ERESEAL ALONG HERE

FOLD

FOLD FOLD

FOLD

Attach additional pages to your submission if you need more room for your answers. If you have any questions on the proposed Draft 2015-2025 Long Term Plan, email [email protected] or call (06) 867 2049.

Submissions open Monday, 16 March 2015 and close at 4pm Friday, 17 April 2015.

1. Post

Freepost 65

Draft 2015-2025 Long Term Plan as per below.

2. Delivery

To our Customer Service desks at either 15 Fitzherbert Street, Gisborne or Te Puia Springs Service Centre

3. Online

Complete this form online: www.gdc.govt.nz/LTP-2015

Email: [email protected]

Social Media: Use the hashtag #LTPGizzy on facebook, twitter or instagram

4. Phone

Phone: 06 867 2049 Freephone: 0800 653 800 and one of our friendly Customer Service staff will fill out this form for you over the phone.

Do you have any other comments to make on our Draft Long Term Plan?

Do you wish to present your submission in person at a Council Hearing on 18-20 May 2015? (please indicate)

YES NO If YES, we will contact you about the date and time for your presentation.

tairŌwhiti kĀkiri tairĀwhiti first!while these may seem like separate and unrelated topics they...

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