Carterton District Council - Consultation Document Long Term Plan 2015-2025 for the proposed

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Carterton District Council - Consultation Document Long Term Plan 2015-2025 for the proposed
Carterton District Council

   Consultation Document
       for the proposed
  Long Term Plan 2015–2025

        ISSN 1171–7459
Carterton District

      A welcoming and vibrant community
                               where people enjoy living

CARTERTON DISTRICT COUNCIL | Consultation Document | Long Term Plan 2015–2025   2
Message from the Mayor
                                       Every three years the Council updates its Long Term Plan, setting out what we hope
                                       to achieve over the next ten years with the community. We have confirmed our
                                       vision for the District—a welcoming and vibrant community where people enjoy
                                       living. And we have reviewed our priorities and the issues we face.

                                       Over the term of the proposed Plan, the population and property numbers in
                                       Carterton are expected to increase. Council has adopted a measured approach to
                                       growth because we wish to retain the character of Carterton—friendly, caring,
                                       vibrant, connected, and engaged—and unmanaged growth could put that at risk.

For most of our activities this modest growth will not impact our levels of service. The financial numbers in this
proposed ten-year plan are largely based on maintaining business as usual. We are ‘sticking to our knitting’.

There are some significant exceptions though. We are continuing an
accelerated programme of sewer mains renewals, we are expanding the
                                                                                      What’s inside?
sewage treatment and disposal capacity (in line with expected consent                 Consultation topics                4
conditions and to create additional headroom to meet ongoing and                      Financial summary                  7
peak demand), and we are further developing the town centre, with                     Infrastructure                     6
Broadway the next refurbishment planned.
                                                                                      Impact on rates                    8
                                                                                      Policies for consideration        10
There are services we already do well, including building consent
processing, our wonderful Events Centre, and parks and reserves, where
                                                                                      Supporting information            10
we have retained our staff in-house. But there is of course room for                  Auditor’s report                  11
improvement. In particular, community engagement and connection are                   Submission form                   12
a priority for us. There is no lack of engagement in our local democracy
though, as we have seen over the past year with strongly-expressed opposition to the proposal of the Local
Government Commission to join Wairarapa and Wellington regions into a super-city. On this issue, given the
uncertain outcome, this proposed Plan assumes the status quo will prevail.

The Long Term Plan looks different from previous ones. The government has introduced changes for all local
authorities. This Consultation Document replaces the draft Long Term Plan. There is an Infrastructure Strategy
that covers the next 30 years for our roads, sewerage, water supply, and stormwater networks. Improved asset
management plans underpin the Strategy.

The focus of this Consultation Document is on four key issues: managing the demands on the urban water supply,
a proposal for the Carter Society to take over our housing for the elderly units, changes in the management of our
community and development grants, and what to do with the Exhibition Centre building in Holloway Street.

This is my first plan as Mayor, but it is the last plan for Chief Executive Colin Wright, who is retiring. Colin has
made a wonderful contribution to the Council and to the Carterton community over the last nine years, and we
are very grateful.

I wish you all well.

Mayor John Booth
CARTERTON DISTRICT COUNCIL | Consultation Document | Long Term Plan 2015–2025                                           3
CONSULTATION TOPICS
This section covers the issues and projects for which we seek feedback from you. There are four topics in particular:
managing the demand on our urban water supply, gifting our housing for the elderly units, how we process our
community grants, and the retention or disposal of the Exhibition Centre building in Holloway Street.

Issue 1
Managing demand for water
The Council proposes to reduce the allowance
above which water is charged from 300 to 225                                    Currently, there is an allowance of 300 m3 and a charge of
cubic metres per annum                                                          $1.90 per m3 over 300 m3. About 10 percent of residents
                                                                                use more than the current 300 m3 allowance, and a further
Water meters were introduced six years ago. Water                               15 percent use between 225 m3 and 300 m3.
usage fell dramatically. Residents used less water, and
leaks in the network were easier to find and repair.                            A number of options were considered for the water price
Over the last two years demand has started to rise, due                         structure—
to the population increase and higher average                                    fixed $488 plus $2.05 per m3 over 300 m3
consumption. Water restrictions were required in 2015                               (the current allowance)
for the first time since meters were installed.                                  fixed $477 plus $1.70 per m3 over 225 m3
In addition, the resource consent for taking water to fill                       fixed $451 plus $1.40 per m3 over 150 m3
our reservoirs is due for renewal, and it is likely that
our allocation will be reduced.                                                 All three options would generate the same total revenue,
                                                                                but the split between fixed rates and water fees differs.
Consumption has to fall. The Council wishes to                                  The total impact for each household will also differ,
encourage more careful use of the water supply.                                 depending on usage.
Lowering water use will also reduce demand on the
sewerage systems.
                                                                                It is proposed that a fixed rate for properties
The Council considers that its key lever for managing                           connected to the urban water supply be set at $477.00
demand is the water price, by recognising low users and                         for an allowance of 225 cubic metres and thereafter a
providing a real incentive for more residents to conserve                       charge of $1.70 per cubic metre.
use. It could also extend the water restrictions, promote
water-saving taps and appliances, assist households to                          Rates will be about $20,000 less, but revenue from
store their rainwater runoff, and provide information on                        water meter fees will be $20,000 more.
how to match garden spaces and species to our climate                           Debt will be not be impacted.
conditions.                                                                     Services provided by Council will be unaffected, but
                                                                                the growth in total water usage should slow or reverse.
Council wishes to balance fairness with affordability. It
wants a simple policy so that the costs to users are
predictable. It wants to encourage conservation, but not to
the extent that it has negative health outcomes.
Also, a lower allowance means a higher administrative cost
in billing and following up non-payment.

CARTERTON DISTRICT COUNCIL | Consultation Document | Long Term Plan 2015–2025                                                       4
Issue 2                                                                             sell the units to the highest bidder (the 2014 rateable
                                                                                    value is $2,330,000) and the proceeds used to retire
Housing for the Elderly                                                             Council debt—there is though the possibility that the
The Council proposes to gift its housing for the                                    new owner may discontinue the service
elderly properties to the Carter Society                                           sell the units to a social housing provider, likely to be
                                                                                    at a price considerably less than open market
The Council manages 38 housing for the elderly units in                            gift the properties to the Carter Society.
four separate locations around Carterton township. Over
the last year, Council has reviewed this activity and                           It is proposed that the Council’s housing for the elderly
recommends that we no longer provide this service.                              units be gifted to the Carter Society. The Society is a
                                                                                not-for-profit organisation based in Carterton, whose
The main issues are that elderly residents sometimes need                       sole purpose is to provide accommodation-related
additional support from their landlords; some of the units                      services for elderly people in Carterton. This proposal
need desirable upgrades, including insulation, heat pumps,                      will ensure that the Society has more critical mass to
and wet-floor showers; the rentals do not cover the full                        deliver these services at or above current levels.
costs including upgrades; government rent subsidies are
not available to tenants of Council-owned housing; and the                      The Council already appoints three members of the
government is encouraging third-party providers to                              Society’s Executive Committee, and there is no
undertake community housing.                                                    intention to require any further monitoring by or
                                                                                ongoing accountability to the Council. There are no
A number of options were considered—                                            known conflicts of interest arising from the proposed
 keep the units but not upgrade, at a cost to ratepayers                       gift.
    of about $50,000 per annum
 upgrade the units, loan-funding the capital cost of                           Rates will reduce by about $50,000 per annum.
    about $650,000, and an additional cost to ratepayers                        Debt will be not be impacted.
    of about $75,000 per annum                                                  Services provided by Council will reduce by the
 operate as a provider-Council joint venture, which                            non-provision of housing for the elderly, but it is
    would still require a share of the capital investment                       expected that the provision of suitable housing for the
    and an ongoing ratepayer subsidy                                            elderly in Carterton will improve overall.

Issue 3                                                                             in conjunction with Masterton and South Wairarapa
Community grants                                                                    councils, for Wairarapa-wide requests.
The Council proposes to merge all its community
and development grants into one round in July                                   It is proposed that one round of grant submissions be
                                                                                held in July each year. Information required from
Every annual or long term plan, the Council receives                            applicants will be standardised to allow better
submissions from organisations and individuals seeking                          comparison between applications. The other
grants or assistance for a range of purposes. This is in                        Wairarapa councils will be consulted on their grant
addition to annual commitments and ad hoc requests                              requests. The Long Term Plan includes annual budgets
during the year. Many people make the same request                              for local organisations ($35,000), Wairarapa-wide
to Masterton and South Wairarapa councils. These                                organisation ($125,000), an economic development
grants are paid from rates, and councillors need to                             fund ($25,000), and a community development fund
apply clear priorities and understand the benefits and                          ($25,000). These will be used to cover existing as well
risks involved.                                                                 as new commitments.
A number of options were considered—
 continue the current ad hoc and somewhat                                      Rates will be unaffected.
     uncoordinated approach                                                     Debt will be not be impacted.
 run a process parallel to the annual plan each year                           Services provided by Council will improve because
 set aside a budget in the annual plans and run a                              grants will be prioritised, and better co-ordinated with
     separate round early in each financial year,                               other councils.

CARTERTON DISTRICT COUNCIL | Consultation Document | Long Term Plan 2015–2025                                                           5
Issue 4
Exhibition Centre building
The Council proposes to retain the Exhibition
Centre building in Holloway Street

The Council Exhibition Centre building in Holloway                              The building itself is of limited value. It needs
Street was purchased by the Council in 2005. Former                             significant repairs and tidy up. It cannot be leased for
tenants have been Marketable Skills and the                                     offices in its current state, and the Council does not
Information Centre. It was also used as temporary                               consider it should be in the business of commercial
meeting space while the Events Centre was being built.                          property development and long term lease.
It was intended that once the Information Centre was
moved into the completed Events Centre, the building                            A number of options were considered—
would be sold to reduce debt. Half the building is                               demolish the building and develop the site as green
currently tenanted to Salvation Army for their second-                              space or carparks
hand store. There has been some interest recently in                             sell on open market and reduce debt on Events Centre,
long term lease of the building.                                                    current value is about $250,000
                                                                                 retain in the short term until the future governance
The value to the Council is the strategic value of its                              outcome is clear, at a net cost to ratepayers of about
location. Holloway Street has been revived as the                                   $11,000 per annum to cover administration,
upgraded ‘civic centre’ of Carterton, alongside the                                 maintenance, and insurance
Events Centre and the Council offices. The governance                            develop the property and lease under long term
environment has changed dramatically over the last                                  arrangement, loan-funded at a cost of $650,000
ten years, with the possibility of either a super-city                           lease long term as is to a commercial developer to
covering Wellington and Wairarapa, a combined                                       develop as long term leasehold property.
Wairarapa district council, or a Wairarapa unitary
council incorporating the roles of the regional council.
                                                                                It is proposed that the Exhibition Centre building in
Carterton is well-placed geographically to be the new                           Holloway Street be retained until the future
centre for Wairarapa local government. Retaining                                governance outcome for Wairarapa is clear and then
property in Holloway Street, available for                                      consider options.
development, strengthens that case.
                                                                                This is the status quo.

                                                                                Rates will not be impacted.
                                                                                Debt will be not be impacted.
                                                                                Services provided by Council will be unaffected.

CARTERTON DISTRICT COUNCIL | Consultation Document | Long Term Plan 2015–2025                                                           6
FINANCIAL SUMMARY                                                               desired surplus. In some activities, rates are more
                                                                                than the net projected expenses to cover the
                                                                                repayment of loan principal, or to build up reserves
Under the Council’s Financial Strategy, increases in
                                                                                for future year expenses (such as the three-yearly
the average rates are limited to the local
                                                                                elections). In some other activities, notably the
government cost index plus 2 percent, generally
                                                                                Events Centre, rates are less than the net projected
rates are set to match expenditure, and borrowing is
                                                                                expenses because not all expenses (especially
limited in terms of the ratios of debt to assets, of
                                                                                depreciation) needs to or should be funded.
interest to revenue, and of interest to cashflow.

                                                                                Charging depreciation each year spreads the cost of
Council has allowed for growth in the rating base to
                                                                                an asset over its useful life. Generally, depreciation
be lower in the next decade than it has in the past
                                                                                is funded by income (including rates) in the same
decade, falling over the next five years to
                                                                                year that the depreciation is incurred. Funding of
1.0 percent per annum increase. This modest growth
                                                                                depreciation results in an increase in the Council’s
will not impact our levels of service. The Council is
                                                                                cash balance, and is held in depreciation reserves.
planning to continue with its current range of
                                                                                These cash funds will earn interest and will provide
activities (except housing for the elderly) generally
                                                                                funding for the replacement of relevant
to the same level of service as at present.
                                                                                infrastructure assets in the future.
There are significant exceptions to this, where
                                                                                Council will fully fund depreciation expense, except
Council wishes to address issues of capacity and
                                                                                for the following:
quality:
                                                                                 roads and footpaths
 an accelerated programme of sewer mains
                                                                                 Events Centre building and fitout
   renewals—more than just end-of-life renewals, and
                                                                                 loan-funded infrastructure development, such as
   beyond depreciation funding
                                                                                     the accelerated programme of sewerage renewals
 continued expansion of the sewage treatment
                                                                                     and treatment capacity.
   capacity, in line with expected consent conditions
   and to create additional headroom to meet ongoing
                                                                                This recognises that either we do not need to build
   and peak demand
                                                                                up the full amount of funds for future replacement,
 further development of the town centre.
                                                                                or it would not be fair on the current generation of
                                                                                ratepayers.
The chart below shows how the Council will fund the
services and projects it will deliver to the community
                                                                                Some of the capital construction of roads and
over the next ten years.
                                                                                footpaths is funded from subsidies received from the
                                                                                New Zealand Transport Agency, and the capital
                                                                                construction of other assets was partly-funded from
                                                                                external funding. Therefore, we do not need to build
                                                                                up the full amount of replacement funds.

                                                                                We need to borrow to fund other capital
                                                                                expenditure, including the Events Centre final fitout,
                                                                                the planned accelerated programme of sewerage
                                                                                renewals, and expansion of the sewage treatment
                                                                                capacity. This is because insufficient funds have built
                                                                                up in the past in depreciation reserves. Either it is a
                                                                                new asset, or rates have not covered the cost of
No changes are proposed to how the Council will                                 depreciation over the full life of the asset.
fund its operating and capital expenditure
requirements. Rates are set at a level to produce a

CARTERTON DISTRICT COUNCIL | Consultation Document | Long Term Plan 2015–2025                                                        7
In these cases, the Council considers it would be                               Operating expenditure is forecast to increase from
unfair for the current generation of ratepayers to                              $13.2 million to $16.2 million over the next ten
pay both the loan repayment (to fund the existing                               years, an increase of 22 percent, compared with the
asset) and the depreciation (to fund its                                        34 percent BERL1 forecast for local government
                                                                                inflation over the same time period.
replacement). During the terms of the loans, rates
will fund the principal repayment and interest
expense, after which rates will fully fund the annual
depreciation expense. At the end of the asset life,
there will be some depreciation reserves built up to
contribute to the replacement cost.

Overall, the Council is proposing an accounting
deficit in the first year and surpluses in each
subsequent year. The first year deficit arises from
the proposal to gift the Council’s housing for the
elderly properties to the Carter Society.

The Council has set limits on the level of borrowing,
                                                                                The Council has decided to limit the increase in
shown in the chart below.
                                                                                average rates2 in any one year to the increase in the
                                                                                BERL local government cost index plus 2 percent.
                                                                                The following chart shows the projected rates during
                                                                                the Long Term Plan and the percentage increase
                                                                                compared with the self-imposed limit in rates
                                                                                increases. In some years, the average rates per
                                                                                property decrease because the increase in total
                                                                                rates is less than the increase in the number of
                                                                                rateable properties.

                                                                                The Council proposes an increase of 3.7 percent in
                                                                                the average rates in 2015/16. Actual rates each year
                                                                                for individual properties will vary depending upon
                                                                                the targeted rates that are applicable, the
                                                                                differential rating category, and the valuation of
The Council proposes to spend $32.5 million on
                                                                                each property.
capital expenditure over the next ten years, of which
$4.4 million is budgeted for 2015/16.

                                                                                1
                                                                                  Forecasts of Price Level Change Adjustors—2014 Update: Note to Society of Local
                                                                                Government Managers, Business and Economic Research Limited, October 2014
                                                                                (amended)
                                                                                2
                                                                                  The average rates is the total forecast rates divided by the total number of
                                                                                forecast rateable properties.

CARTERTON DISTRICT COUNCIL | Consultation Document | Long Term Plan 2015–2025                                                                                 8
type, and size etc of the asset components, their
                                                                                replacement cost, and which are the most critical.
                                                                                But much of it is underground, particularly the water
                                                                                pipes and sewer mains, and we have limited
                                                                                information about their condition. We have renewal
                                                                                strategies and policies, but we need to improve our
                                                                                management systems and processes.

                                                                                During 2015/16, the Council will review its overall
                                                                                asset management to address these gaps.

                                                                                The chart below shows the projected capital
                                                                                expenditure on infrastructure for the next 30 years.3
The full financial strategy and further financial
information are available at the Council office and
                                                                                      CDC LTP 2015–2025 | Projected infrastructure
website (see page 12).                                                                            capital expenditure
                                                                                    $3,500,000

                                                                                    $3,000,000

INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGY 2015–2045                                                   $2,500,000

                                                                                    $2,000,000

Good quality local infrastructure is essential to the                               $1,500,000

health, safety, and land transport needs of the                                     $1,000,000

district and has a significant impact on the physical                                $500,000

                                                                                           $0
environment.

The infrastructure strategy is a new document that                                               Roads, footpaths, and bridges   Sewerage and the disposal of sewage

outlines the key land transport, sewerage,                                                       Water supply                    Stormwater

stormwater, and water supply infrastructural issues
that the community faces over the next 30 years.
It helps the Council consult and make decisions on                              Most of this expenditure is the replacement of
its infrastructure investment during the period of                              existing assets, and will be funded from depreciation
the ten-year plan and beyond.                                                   reserves that build up over the life of the asset, from
                                                                                roading subsidies, and from borrowing.
The key issues identified in the strategy are                                   Infrastructure to meet the needs of new building
managing for demographic change, maintaining                                    developments will be constructed by the developers,
levels of service, responding to changing regulatory                            or funded from financial contributions from the
requirements, and dealing with the impact of                                    developers.
climate change and natural hazards.
                                                                                The full infrastructure strategy is available at the
In addition, the Council wishes to improve the                                  Council office and website (see page 12).
capacity of its sewage treatment, discharge more of
its treated sewage to land, reduce demand for
water, and be ready to respond to proposed central
government changes to road standards.

This is the Council’s first Infrastructure Strategy and
its preparation has identified gaps in what we know
about our infrastructure and how we manage its
                                                                                3
                                                                                 The values are inflation-adjusted up to 2024/25, after which the values are in
planning. We have data about the location, age,                                 2024/25 dollars.

CARTERTON DISTRICT COUNCIL | Consultation Document | Long Term Plan 2015–2025                                                                                          9
IMPACT ON RATES 2015/16
                                                                 GST inclusive            Rates required
                                                                                              $ incl GST
General rates—differential factor
Residential                                                      1.0
Commercial                                                       2.0
Rural                                                            0.8

General rates—capital value
Residential                                                      0.25204 cents in the $      $ 1,439,724
Commercial                                                       0.50409 cents in the $        $ 462,104
Rural                                                            0.20163 cents in the $      $2,930,484

Uniform Annual General Charge                                    $ 795.68 ea                 $ 3,189,090
50% Uniform Annual General Charge                                $ 397.84 ea                      $ 6,763

Regulatory and planning services—capital value                   0.02051 cents in the $       $ 435,257

Urban sewerage
Connected                                                        $ 486.01 ea                 $ 1,231,063
Able to be connected (half charge)                               $ 243.00 ea                    $ 26,488

Waingawa sewerage—capital value
Connected                                                        $ 423.45                        $ 4,235
Connected or able to be connected commercial                     0.3474 cents in the $          $ 77,071
properties in the Waingawa industrial zone
Connected or able to be connected residential                    0.1737 cents in the $                  -
properties in the Waingawa industrial zone

Stormwater—land value                                            0.11860 cents in the $       $ 232,763

Refuse collection and kerbside recycling                          $ 72.60 ea                  $ 166,264

Urban water
Connected                                                        $ 477.00 ea                 $ 1,189,638
Able to be connected                                             $ 238.50 ea                    $ 25,997
Metered water in excess of 225 cubic metres                      $ 1.70 per cubic metre        $ 115,000

Rural water race
Carrington water race
Rural water services rate                                        $ 204.18 ea                    $ 14,088
Class A                                                          $ 62.50337 per ha              $ 68,237
Class B                                                          $ 12.68541 per ha               $ 7,475
Class C                                                          $ 111.81209 per ha              $ 6,038

Taratahi water race
Rural water services rate                                        $ 184.53 ea                   $ 88,574
Class A                                                          $ 14.00525 per ha            $ 104,942
Class B                                                          $ 2.64802 per ha              $ 10,039
Class C                                                          $ 107.66597 per ha            $ 50,603

Waingawa water
Connected                                                        $197.43 ea                      $ 9,279
Metered water                                                    $2.23 per cubic metre        $ 115,000

CARTERTON DISTRICT COUNCIL | Consultation Document | Long Term Plan 2015–2025                               10
Calculate your proposed rates for 2015/16
Actual rates for individual properties will vary depending upon the targeted rates that are applicable, the
differential rating category, and the valuation of each property. The table below includes GST and excludes the
Greater Wellington Regional Council rates. It also excludes rates rebates available to low-income households.

You will need your last Rates Assessment Notice and the latest rateable valuations provided to you by Quotable
Value (also on your rates notice).

      Residential                                                                                   multiplier       GST inclusive
      General‒residential                Capital value                                          x   0.0025204    =
      Uniform Annual General Charge                                                                     fixed                  795.68
      Regulatory and planning services Capital value                                            x   0.0002051    =
      Urban sewerage                                                                                    fixed                  486.01
      Stormwater                         Land value                                             x   0.0011860    =
      Refuse collection and kerbside recycling                                                          fixed                   72.60
      Urban water‒connection                                                                            fixed                  477.00
      Metered water                      Cubic metres                                           x       $1.70    =
                                         over 225
                                                                                                            Total

      Rural
      General‒rural                    Capital value                                            x 0.0020163 =
      Uniform Annual General Charge                                                                   fixed                    795.68
      Regulatory and planning services Capital value                                            x 0.0002051 =

      Carrington water race                                                     if applicable       $204.18      =
      Class A                                         Hectares                                  x 62.50337       =
      Class B                                         Hectares                                  x 12.68541       =
      Class C                                         Hectares                                  x 111.81209      =
      Taratahi water race                                                       if applicable       $184.53      =
      Class A                                         Hectares                                  x 14.00525       =
      Class B                                         Hectares                                  x   2.64802      =
      Class C                                         Hectares                                  x 107.66597      =

                                                                                                            Total

CARTERTON DISTRICT COUNCIL | Consultation Document | Long Term Plan 2015–2025                                                           11
The following table provides indicative rates assessments for a range of rating categories and property values:

             Example properties                                             capital        land       water over     rates        rates
                                                                             value         value      allowance      total          %
             rating category               features                            $             $       cubic metres      $        increase

             Residential                   low value                            165,000     75,000       -          $2,369.95    3.0%

             Residential                   medium value                         290,000    110,000           10     $2,769.15    3.4%

             Residential                   high value                           365,000    120,000           25     $3,010.92    4.2%

             Commercial                    2 toilets                            475,000    225,000      100         $5,246.00    6.5%

             Commercial - rural            water and sewerage                   160,000     na           -          $3,084.06    5.9%
                                           connected
             Rural                         4 hectares on Carrington             500,000     na           na         $2,360.57    1.7%
                                           water race
             Rural                         120 hectares on Taratahi        2,000,000        na           na         $6,876.50    -1.6%
                                           water race

OTHER INFORMATION
We are also consulting on a number of small                                           Further supporting information is also available to
changes to Council policies that support the Long                                     view at our offices and on our website:
Term Plan. These are available at our offices and on
our website.                                                                             community outcomes
                                                                                         activity summaries
They include:                                                                            financial strategy
                                                                                         liability management policy
    revenue and financing policy                                                        financial contributions policy
    investment policy                                                                   postponement of rates policy
    remission of rates policy                                                           remission and postponement of rates on Māori
                                                                                          freehold land policy
                                                                                         significance and engagement policy
                                                                                         fees and charges 2015/16
                                                                                         infrastructure strategy 2015–2045

                                                                                      Go to www.cdc.govt.nz/plans for a full list.

CARTERTON DISTRICT COUNCIL | Consultation Document | Long Term Plan 2015–2025                                                              12
Independent auditor’s report on Carterton District Council’s
                            Consultation Document for its proposed 2015–25 Long-Term Plan

I am the Auditor General’s appointed auditor for                                Responsibilities of the Council and auditor
Carterton District Council (the Council). Section 93C of
the Local Government Act 2002 (the Act) requires an                             The Council is responsible for:
audit report on the Council’s consultation document.
I have carried out this audit using the staff and                                  meeting all legal requirements relating to its
resources of Audit New Zealand. We completed this                                   procedures, decisions, consultation, disclosures, and
audit on 6 May 2015.                                                                other actions associated with preparing and
                                                                                    publishing the consultation document and long-term
Opinion                                                                             plan whether in printed or electronic form;

In my opinion:                                                                     having systems and processes in place to provide the
                                                                                    supporting information and analysis the Council needs
    the consultation document provides an effective basis                          to be able to prepare a consultation document and
     for public participation in the Council’s decisions                            long term plan that meet the purposes set out in the
     about the proposed content of its 2015–25 long-term                            Act; and
     plan, because it:
                                                                                   ensuring that any forecast financial information being
     o     fairly represents the matters proposed for                               presented has been prepared in accordance with
           inclusion in the long term plan; and                                     generally accepted accounting practice in
                                                                                    New Zealand.
     o     identifies and explains the main issues and
           choices facing the Council and district, and the                     I am responsible for reporting on the consultation
           consequences of those choices; and                                   document, as required by section 93C of the Act. I do
                                                                                not express an opinion on the merits of any policy
                                                                                content of the consultation document.
    the information and assumptions underlying the
     information in the consultation document are                               Independence
     reasonable.
                                                                                We have followed the independence requirements of
Basis of Opinion                                                                the Auditor-General, which incorporate those of the
                                                                                External Reporting Board. Other than our work in
We carried out our work in accordance with the                                  carrying out all legally required external audits, we
Auditor-General’s Auditing Standards, relevant                                  have no relationship with, or interests in, the Council or
international standards and the ethical requirements                            any of its subsidiaries.
in those standards.

We assessed the evidence the Council has to support
the information and disclosures in the consultation
document. To select appropriate audit procedures, we
assessed the risk of material misstatement and the                              Phil Kennerley
Council’s systems and processes applying to the                                 Audit New Zealand
preparation of the consultation document.                                       On behalf of the Auditor General
                                                                                Wellington, New Zealand
We did not evaluate the security and controls over
the publication of the consultation document.

CARTERTON DISTRICT COUNCIL | Consultation Document | Long Term Plan 2015–2025                                                         13
Submission form
Have your say                                                                      Tips for writing great
                                                                                   submissions
We encourage every one of you to submit your views on what
you think the Council should be doing and the services it should                      Read the consultation document and,
be providing over the next ten years, and beyond.                                      if needed, refer to the supporting
                                                                                       information on our website.
The Council has carefully considered what it thinks is important                      Use simple language, be as clear as
to meet the reasonable needs of our community over the next                            possible, keep to the point.
ten years. You may have different views or you may agree with
                                                                                      Tell us what you want, what decision
our choices. This consultation phase is your chance to have an
                                                                                       you seek, and tell us why.
influence on the Long Term Plan that is adopted.
                                                                                      If you are writing, get the important
                                                                                       points up front.
Submissions close 4.00pm, 9 June 2015.
                                                                                      Consider speaking at a hearing. You’ll
                                                                                       have more opportunity to press your
                                                                                       case.
How to find out more
Online —the consultation document and supporting information are available on the Council website at
www.cdc.govt.nz/plans
Public meeting—a public meeting will be held at 7.30pm, 21 May at the Events Centre, Holloway Street.
Copies—copies of the consultation document and supporting information are available at the Council office,
Holloway Street, and at the Library.

Talk to your councillors
You can also find out more or have your say by talking directly to your councillors or Mayor.

Cr. John Booth (Mayor)                              Cr. Elaine Brazendale (Deputy Mayor)   Cr Mike Ashby
06 378 2481 / 027 442 7469                          06 379 6899 / 027 441 3557             06 379 7890 / 027 922 2999
john.booth@cdc.govt.nz                              elaine.brazendale@cdc.govt.nz          mike.ashby@cdc.govt.nz

Cr. William (Bill) Knowles                          Cr. Ruth Carter                        Cr. Greg Lang
06 379 8730 / 022 126 2154                          06 379 7467 / 027 379 7467             06 372 7080 / 027 898 1618
bill.knowles@cdc.govt.nz                            ruth.carter@cdc.govt.nz                greg.lang@cdc.govt.nz

Cr. Jill Greathead                                  Cr. Mike Palmers                       Cr. Russell Keys
06 379 6193 / 027 488 4376                          06 379 7855 / 027 220 6282             06 379 6433 / 027 454 0860
jill.greathead@cdc.govt.nz                          mike.palmers@cdc.govt.nz               russell.keys@cdc.govt.nz

You can write a letter, or complete the submission form, and either:
 send to Long Term Plan submissions, Carterton District Council, PO Box 9, Carterton
 deliver to Council office, Holloway Street, Carterton
 email it to info@cdc.govt.nz
 fax it to (06) 379 7832.

All submissions will be available to the public and the media.

CARTERTON DISTRICT COUNCIL | Consultation Document | Long Term Plan 2015–2025                                              14
Long Term Plan 2015–2025 submission
Name
Address

Email
Phone (daytime)                                         Phone (evening)         Mobile

Organisation
(if you are submitting on behalf of an organisation)

Do you wish to speak about your submission at a hearing on 15–16 June?          YES/NO

Key issues
Managing demand for water

Housing for the Elderly

Community grants

CARTERTON DISTRICT COUNCIL | Consultation Document | Long Term Plan 2015–2025            15
Exhibition Centre building

Any other comments or issues that you would like to raise

You can write a letter, or complete the submission form, and either:
 send to Long Term Plan submissions, Carterton District Council, PO Box 9, Carterton
 deliver to Council office, Holloway Street, Carterton
 email it to info@cdc.govt.nz
 fax it to (06) 379 7832.

Submissions close 4.00pm, 9 June 2015.

CARTERTON DISTRICT COUNCIL | Consultation Document | Long Term Plan 2015–2025           16
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