Martinborough’s urban rates will rise by 21.3 percent in the 2023-24 year and rural rates by an average of 20.9 percent, the South Wairarapa District Council confirmed at its meeting on June 28.
The overall rates rise, including commercial sector rates, will total 19.8 percent, up from the 3.9 percent increase in the council’s Long Term Plan document.
“This increase equates to $4.21 million on top of the 2022-23 budget, making a total of $25.45 million” to run the council for the next July – June year, it noted.
The figures also represent a massive redrawing of earlier council intentions, which proposed rural rates rise by 29 percent, urban rates by just under 11 percent and commercial rates 9 percent.
On top of that, Greater Wellington rates are expected to rise 17 percent for all ratepayers.
The SWDC’s change of plans follows a month of consultation with some 180 urban and rural ratepayers making submissions on the council’s plans.
Some rural landowners warned the council it had reached “peak rates,” and the planned 29 percent rates burden could help drive them from their land.
Farmer Kate Reedy, whose family has farmed their 4,800 hectares since 1842, said her current rates bill covered 70 percent of her land that grew “ mature scrub.”
Farmer Dan Riddiford said that of his 6,500 hectares only 1.200 hectares is productive land, with “80 percent greywacke (rock substructure).”
Speaking after Reedy, he warned councillors that “Kate is being rated off her land.”
The average 19.8 percent rates increase of across all South Wairarapa properties will raise $25.45 million from the Council 7,400 rating units and 11,500 residents.
In its report on the increases, SWDC notes that much of the area’s infrastructure is aged and under-performing, and needs replacing or significant upgrading.
While it’s unclear how the so-called three waters reform will impact the district, “keeping our water clean and treating wastewater to standard is getting more expensive.”
Repairing the rundown Martinborough and Greytown wastewater systems is expected to cost an extra _ and unbudgeted _ $1.8 million over coming months.
The report also advises that Quotable Value (QV) will be undertaking its three-yearly property revaluations later in the year.
“The impact from revaluations could be felt in the rate-setting for 2024/25 if land value remains a basis for calculating part of the rates,” it said.
Mayor Martin Connelly said in the early stages of public consultation that urban ratepayers had indicated they could pay more _ given the 29 percent proposed rural rates hike.
In the four main areas of consultation carried out by the council, some 72 percent said they wanted the water budget increased to help avoid health, safety and plant failure risks;
62 percent of submitters supported an increase in rural roading funding to provide a buffer for urgent works;
50 percent supported cutting the casual, fill-in library staff budget, which will see library opening hours reduced by about four days a month;
63 percent wanted to retain community and youth grant schemes, so council reduced the total by $50,000 to $120,000.
Roading safety and maintenance, and maintaining access to vulnerable rural coastal communities are key SWDC priorities for the coming year, after a series of eight road-damaging weather events across the region.
