Council has opted not to consult the community over its Annual Plan 2025-26, given the forecast rate rise is lower than set out in its Long Term Plan and levels of service are not changing dramatically.

Councillors have signalled a 7.3 per cent average rate rise, less than the 10.1 per cent indicated in Year 2 of the Long Term Plan 2024-34.

Mayor Neil Brown said the annual plan was not substantially different to the Long Term Plan Council had adopted only last year.

“It is close or even better than we planned last year, and we’re holding levels of service. The rate increase for individual properties will vary, depending on their location, capital value and services they receive, but we don’t need to spend $25,000 consulting with the community if the annual plan has no significant or material changes.”

Council expects to collect about $56.3 million in rates in 2025-26, which it will use to help run the district. It plans to call on $4m from reserves and borrow for some big projects, including $16 million for Three Waters projects.

The Three Waters projects include investigating a second source to augment the Mount Somers drinking water supply, updating the connectivity of Council drinking water treatment plants so they can be remotely controlled if needed, and 18 separate projects to renew watermains in Rakaia, Methven and Ashburton.

Mayor Brown said Councillors had looked for savings where they could and concentrated on delivering core services well.

Key differences from Year 2 of the LTP to the Annual Plan 2025-26 are:

• Removal of the planned upgrade to Robilliard Park, saving $251,500
• A 5 per cent increase to the drinking water rate (from $706.10 to $741.50)
• Deferral of the stormwater attenuation and treatment facility on West Street to 2026-27.
• $83,000 added to bulk buy replacement heat pumps for Elderly Persons Housing units.
• Aligning the transportation budget with reduced NZTA funding, with $3m Council money for unsubsidised work.

Group Manager of Democracy and Engagement Toni Durham said the annual plan process was not about re-debating issues already decided in the Long Term Plan, but about signifying major differences from the LTP.

“Once the plan has been adopted, we’ll be sharing that with the community and telling them about all the work they can expect to see happening, like improvements to our roads and renewing parts of our essential water and wastewater networks.”