Coast regional council bumps up rates 10%
From local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:
The West Coast Regional Council has increased rates by 10%.
But it has excluded a planned inflation adjustment of 2.3% as signalled in the long-term plan.
Last year rates went up 30%.
Faced with an overall 12.3% increase this year, chief executive Heather Mabin told councillors it was not too late to amend the budget and revert "to a true 10%".
Cr Peter Ewen said the council needed to keep faith with the ratepayers.
"That to me is a public contract."
The council needed to address rising costs, which included compliance costs that were "a Government imposition" and directly affected ratepayers.
"There are some other things there we have got to address. It's never easy to cut costs but it's something we've got to get used to," Ewen said.
As an example, the council should be claiming back from the Government the full costs of formulating the combined district plan for the region, as it was now a national pilot.
"If we roll over and take it, why are we here? I don't mind being the guinea pig [but] it's another version of being set up to fail because the rates are going to be so high."
Cr Debra Magner said the council had to consider the risks in not cost adjusting, with projects and statutory obligations looming.
"It isn't just a matter of saying we can cut [2.3%] out without consequences."
Cr Stuart Challenger said he was mindful of the impact on ratepayers but the council had to meet its obligations.
"My concern is if we didn't have rate rises, and all of a sudden we have to make up for it. We need to cut our costs but we need to make sure we are doing what we're supposed to do."
Ewen asked what the 2.3% would represent in a budget adjustment.
Mabin said it was close to $95,000.
Ewen said that coincidentally represented the lease revenue for the council's Rolleston property (a 1080 factory), which might be reviewed to help the budget.
Cr Laura Coll-McLaughlin said the council, like everyone else, was at the "sharp end" with inflation.
It needed to budget for the unexpected while weighing the impact on ratepayers but without leaving the council financially vulnerable.
Kalle
"Sports and travelling run in the family, and that's kind of what's led me to come to New Zealand."
"I grew up in a small town in Finland. My dad was involved with sports all his life, he was a shot putter, discus thrower, powerlifter, we traveled quite a bit when I was a kid. He never mentioned much of the rugby days. He just said he broke both of his shin bones playing rugby, so he said, ‘never play the sport, It's crazy.’
I started playing when I was 18. I played my first cap for the Finnish national team in 2014, we won the Finnish championship with my club. Rugby is not a big thing in Finland.
I moved here to play rugby in 2017. The club that wanted me to come over was Methven Rugby Club. They got me here and they were like, ‘what do you do for work? I’d just finished chef school in Finland. ‘We'll get you a job at Mount Hutt as a chef, you can do that while you play rugby with us.’ I said, ‘Perfect. Yeah, I'm in’.
I've always loved food. My mum was an amazing cook, and still is. When I was studying tourism I worked in some hotels in Finland, and I saw how the chef's worked. I just loved the kitchen vibe and I was like, Yeah, that’d be something I'd love to do.
I've had more of a culinary journey In New Zealand than in Finland. I started at Mount Hutt, after that I worked at The Dubliner in Methven. I worked as a senior pizza chef at Sal’s for maybe six months then worked as chef de partie at Cellar Door. At Eliza's Manor, I worked myself up to a junior sous chef. Then the opportunity came to work my first head chef job at Moon Under Water.
We're privileged to have a busy atmosphere, we can try new things and get a bit creative. There are no TV’s, just come here with your family or with your mates, play board games, to socialise.
I really want to drive the local food and ingredients through the menu. We don't mind spending more for quality ingredients as long as it's supporting New Zealand businesses. We just love to use local. And it's pub food, but I feel like it's elevated.
I play club rugby here for the Christchurch Football Club, the oldest club in New Zealand and I still play regularly for the Finnish national team, whenever they can fly me over to play."
- Kalle
View more stories, or nominate someone: @humansofchch
www.humansofchch.org......
Poll: Is it okay to grocery shop in your PJs?
I'm sure you've seen it while doing your weekly shop... In fact, it may have even been you.
What do you think about people heading to the supermarket in their pyjamas?
-
14.5% It's fine!
-
75% It's questionable
-
10.6% Other - I'll share below
Vanessa
“Giggly girt! Giggly girt!”
“See I got my hair cut on Friday. I've got my hair band to keep it up. See? Like this I keep it up.
Biscuit Blair - she's my favourite woman. And you. And that cheeky lady over there.
My last name is Rule. I'll write it down for you, you silly old duff.
I was born on West Coast. I moved here when I was a little girl.
I like doing pictures here that’s why I like pictures. Doing art. I like going for a walk. I come here Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday.
My sister, I go see her on Saturday. Have a cup of coffee, at home. She's five, nine. 59. I'm five, seven, 57. This year I'll be 58. My birthday's on a Thursday. I'm having chocolate cake and pizza. And lolly ice cream.
Some people are noisy. Nicholas, and Peter and Chris, they are my friends and that giggly girt over there.
I get headache sometimes at other work, because noisy.
I'm happy here. I could go for a walk if I want to. I'm good.”
- Vanessa, White Room Creative Spaces
The White Room is a community creative space that removes barriers to
making art. Through this, artists build confidence and connections and
embrace new opportunities.
Loading…
