Central Otago residents had the opportunity this week to talk with Otago regional councillors about the proposed rates increases and what that money would likely be spent on.

Drop-in sessions were held in Alexandra, Wanaka and Queenstown, where estimates projected an average Central Otago home worth $700,000 would increase $72/year to $322 in 2024-25.

The ORC also outlined its plans to potentially trial public transport using regional bus trails in several towns including Alexandra, Clyde and Cromwell.

The Long-Term Plan (LTP) provides the public the opportunity to provide feedback on their willingness to support a public transport investment. 

Subject to the response council gets, ORC will then work with and seek feedback from the local council and communities on the design of the services. 

Design considerations will include the route, the location of stops, frequency of services and running times over the day/week. 

ORC also estimates $315 million needs to be spent on flood and drainage protection over the next 30 years; including $67 million during the first 10-years of the LTP. 

Areas proposed to receive this investment include Alexandra, the Leith (North Dunedin), lower, east and west Taieri, Tokomairiro, lower Clutha and lower Waitaki River areas. 

For many areas, there will be changes to flood protection, drainage, and river management rates, which will see the current targeted rates decline by more than $500 across around 2100 properties in most flood and drainage-defined areas.

But, the general rate rise moves up between 10 per cent to -20% in the areas impacted; Alexandra, Leith, lower Clutha, lower, rast and eest Taieri and Tokomairiro. 

ORC proposes to implement a new region-wide (general) rate of 20% of the amount required for flood protection and 10% for all drainage schemes. 

Proposed targeted rates for river management will see decreases in Dunedin (-33.9%), Whakatipu (-28.2%) and Wanaka (-19.2%) but Central Otago, with large waterways, would increase 40.2% and Waitaki will go up 57.5%. 

The proposed average rates impact for households would see possible increases of 18.6% for 2024-25, 11.2% for 2025-26 and 9.4% for 2026-27.

ORC’s chair Gretchen Robertson acknowledges ratepayers have a strong interest in the types of services we undertake and what is affordable.  

“There are options up for discussion and we’re urging people in the community to make submissions now as the work programmes being discussed will have effects on them for the next 10 years ahead,” she said.

Submissions, either online or by post, can be made until April 28.

“With 10 rating changes being proposed that will likely affect some component of rating in your area, we need to know now whether you agree or disagree with these proposals,” Cr Robertson says. 

Central Otago will also have its own targeted rate for river management, such as willow removal and river maintenance, resulting in an increase of 40% in the amount collected from Central Otago for this activity. There will also be a new air pollution strategy.