Annual rates in the Teviot Valley are predicted to increase by around 6.9% this year, with a loan to cover the new Roxburgh pool one source of increased cost.

The value of the Teviot Valley walkway and Roxburgh Entertainment Centre also impacted the balance sheet for the area in costs and depreciation, the Teviot Valley Community Board were toldon Thursday.

Growth, when factored in, may however reduce people’s rates bill slightly if there are enough new ratepayers in the area to help spread the load.

The figures will go before the Central Otago District Council for further scrutiny before being included the council’s 2022 – 2023 Annual Plan.

Average rates across the district increased by 6.7% last year and are predicted to go up around $7.4 to 7.5% this year and another 7.6% next year, bringing the total percentage

increase over three years to nearly $22%.

Cavalcade Disappointment

The board acknowledged the disappointment of many who had been working for months to prepare for hosting the 30th Goldfields Cavalcade at Millers Flat, now postponed due to the

restrictions of the “red traffic light” pandemic setting.

In October last year the Board granted the host town group $2500 toward the planned events which included welcoming around 400 horse-riders, cyclists and walkers in early March

2022 for a country fete and evening hoedown. Much-loved entertainers the Topp Twins had been

booked to entertain.

Up to 4000 people had been expected to be involved over the whole event, which has been postponed to 2023. The board this week decided to not request a refund of the money, but to allow

the group to hold it over for next year’s event.

Businesses, Sports and Building Fees

The council also reviews fees and charges across the district when preparing its Annual Plan and these were viewed by the board on Thursday, who met online.

Amongst these are a new $400 bond being proposed to cover costs of potential damage to council property by hirees. Existing fees for some building control and consenting services are also being

reviewed and will likely increase in the middle of this year.

Fees for environmental health inspections for hairdressers, funeral directors and some others will go up from $168 to $225 although follow-up inspections will drop by $18 to $150.

Cancelling a building consent inspection on the same day will now have a cost - $150 – and inspections for alteration work valued under $5000 will cost $450, up $134.

Many of the changes were to reflect the hourly rate and realistic time taken by staff to perform their duties, according to the report.

A refundable $400 bond to cover potential damage to the area’s sports grounds is being included in the new fees schedule as well as a $200 end-of-season cleaning fee for Alexandra and Clyde sports

facilities.

Very noisy parties will continue give hosts more than just a hangover… non-compliance with orders regarding unreasonable or excessive noise costs $750 or $500 respectively. This fee is unchanged from last year.