The Year Ahead: Council’s Annual Plan 2022/2023

Published on September 16, 2022

Horowhenua is growing fast and we are excited about what’s to come.

In June, Horowhenua District Council adopted the Annual Plan 2022/23, a document which highlights the services and projects we plan to deliver in the 2022/23 financial year. It sets out the budget, rates, and key projects for the year.

It’s underpinned by the social, economic, environmental and cultural wellbeing of our communities and follows closely what was outlined in Year 2 of the Long Term Plan (LTP). A record number of people had their say during consultation on the LTP, with 564 formal submissions received. Because the changes were minor and the consultation of the LTP was so extensive, this year we did not consult on the Annual Plan. 

You spoke and we listened 

Mayor Bernie Wanden says “We valued the feedback from our community as we developed the LTP. We heard how important it was to you to have quality infrastructure, a resilient water supply and ensure growth is offset by those moving to our district. As Horowhenua continues to experience unprecedented growth, one of our key priorities remains investing in the core infrastructure – whether that is building it new, upgrading, or improving the maintenance of the service. We remain committed to that.” 

Chief Executive Monique Davidson says “Council is prioritising projects to improve infrastructure and optimise development opportunities within our district without compromising on wellbeing initiatives that are crucial to supporting a thriving community.” 

Key Projects

Last year some projects were affected by COVID-19, workforce and supply chain issues, but we remain focused on delivering promised projects. We need to realign capital spending and timelines in the LTP for 2023/24 by amending the LTP. We’ll consult with the community about that in the next year.

Delivering on the Horowhenua 2040 Blueprint and Growth Strategy

With sustainable growth, liveability and prosperity taking center stage, we’ve also adopted the Horowhenua 2040 Blueprint (The Blueprint) and Growth Strategy.

The Blueprint details action areas we’re committed to improving, along with how we want to grow and the infrastructure required. It emphasises affordable housing, supporting and enabling iwi aspirations, securing jobs in key sectors, attracting more visitors with a strong district identity, nurturing and promoting a food culture, and keeping the district moving as it continues to grow and evolve.

Water

We all deserve safe and reliable water services. The Three Waters Reform aims to ensure our drinking water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure and services are planned, maintained and delivered.

Renewals and upgrades of three waters network pipes and water treatment plant assets are scheduled, and we are investigating an option to provide increased fresh water storage to improve drinking water resiliency.

Housing

Horowhenua’s population is growing three times faster than the rest of New Zealand, and ensuring homes and services are available for our residents – current and new – is a key focus. 

Tara-Ika, a 420ha block of land to the east of Levin will be a key growth area of the district, with about 3,500 houses, a small commercial area, new parks and reserves and educational opportunities planned. The Tara-Ika Growth Area Plan Change was adopted in June 2022 and endorsed by the Hearings Panel, following several years of work and a broad submission process. Endorsing a Streamlined Housing Process (SHP) also encourages housing diversity and development as our population increases.

Rates

Rates help run and maintain services and facilities we enjoy in the community. The average rates increase for the year is 7.0%; lower than the LTP forecast of 7.4%. Actual increases depend on where in Horowhenua you live and the type of property you own. 

Increased costs for the landfill, including lost revenue and waste transport costs had an impact on rates, with $450,000 to be funded through rates. However, growth and the deferred delivery of our capital programme helped keep rates down, with the addition of 350 more rateable properties in Horowhenua in the last year to spread costs across.

Read the full Annual Plan 2022/23 online, and paper copies can be read at Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō, Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom, the Civic Building or Shannon Library.