South Waikato's 2024-2034 Long Term Plan adopted

The South Waikato District Council has this week adopted the Long Term Plan (LTP) for 2024-2034, setting out a vision for the District to be a thriving community with a robust economy that outpaces the rest of New Zealand over the next decade.

• Click here to view the Long Term Plan 2024-2034 in full
• Click here to view the dedicated webpage for the Long Term Plan 2024-2034

It follows public consultation and consideration of a record number of submissions and viewpoints expressed at hearings over the past year.

In total, Council received more than 350 submissions on the LTP and key issues relating to plans for growth and development and rates increases, which helped elected members shape the Plan.

Elected members took part in 13 LTP workshops and several public meetings as well.

The LTP outlines a path for Council to deliver capital expenditure of $270m for South Waikato residents and business owners over the next decade, alongside a commitment to also achieve operational savings of $29m across that same period.

South Waikato Mayor Gary Petley said submissions during the consultation period gave elected members a clear message that Council must look after existing infrastructure, and among the significant decisions in the LTP is room for a $150m investment in the District’s ageing three waters infrastructure and a $17m investment in extending the life of the South Waikato Indoor Pool in Tokoroa.

“We’ve listened to the feedback from our community and landed on a plan that balances the need to continue to deliver core services and make urgent infrastructure upgrades, while cutting our cloth and not overspending,” Mayor Petley said.

“We’ve had to make some tough calls and it’s required careful consideration and some challenging decisions.

“This is an ambitious plan, but sticking with the status quo was never going to be the answer, and we need to move forward on what is right for the future of the District as a whole.

“Like many others in this country, our Council has under-invested in core infrastructure for decades. We must fix this to avoid sliding further backwards, but it doesn’t come cheap.

“A major project for the community is the indoor pool. It’s had a patch-and-go mentality attached to it for a long time, but we’re in a position where we can no longer do that.

“The $17m set aside will get it back to being a facility that is fit for purpose and will benefit the District and our people for years to come.

“Investing into our three waters infrastructure now allows us to respond to the Local Waters Done Well requirements that are currently being legislated by Central Government.

“Through this plan we’ll also create an avenue for new homes, jobs and opportunities that benefit generations to come.

“We have got a lot of work to do now to fulfil this plan’s vision that in 10 years we will be in a much better position than we find ourselves in at present.”

Council will work back towards surpluses over the first four years of the Plan and achieve a sustainable operating position.

“We don’t want future generations to have to bear the burden of underfunding for renewal of assets,” Petley added.

Due to the high increase last year and the work done to drive down costs, South Waikato’s rates increase is among the lowest in the country.

It is proposed that average rates increases for years one, two and three of the LTP (2024-25, 2025-26 and 2026-27 financial years) are 8.9% and will then reduce to 7.9% in year four (2027-28), with a further reduction to 7.5% in year five (2028-29).

From year six (2029-30) onwards it’s forecast that the average rates increase for the District will plateau at 3%.