Mayor's Message

I want to use this last opportunity to encourage feedback on Council’s draft Long Term Plan 2024-34, with submissions closing this Sunday, 28 April. This is the most important consultation Council does during its three-year term. The Long Term Plan outlines how we much we’ll charge in rates, how we’ll spend about $170 million a year of public money and how we’ll manage our community’s $2.4 billion of assets.

I understand that people are sceptical about the value of submissions and whether Council takes any notice. Our individual voices in a city of 56,000 will always be small but they matter. We already have more than 600 submissions with a wide range of opinions. My commitment is to read every submission and personally reply to every submitter. They do influence our thinking. The quality of the case rather than the number of submissions has the greatest impact.

The most difficult part of this process is managing budgets. We receive hundreds of requests from residents wanting new infrastructure, services or funding for community organisations. These are often modest but when added together amount to much larger rate increases. We rarely get submissions seeking a reduction in spending. My view is that the proposed 8.2% rate hike and $300 storm charge is at the upper limit of what ratepayers can afford.

The economic environment has become more difficult since Council approved the draft rate rise last year. We have businesses and households not just facing hikes in their mortgage and living costs but hundreds of households also facing a loss of income. The demise of 170 jobs at Tāhunanui’s health products manufacturer Alaron Products is huge for the city. I am aware of many other Nelson companies laying off staff and reducing hours. Nor is Nelson exempt from the public sector job losses as the Government tries to get on top of its deficit of more than $9 billion.

These financial challenges do not mean we should stop investing. A city doing nothing goes backwards. We need to be focused on getting value for money and leveraging other funding. The $78 million Bridge to Better project is getting $36 million from Government and the proposed Tāhunanui Beach surf lifesaving facility depends on 50% being raised by the club.

Our goal is a final Long Term Plan in June that has broad community support, enhances in our city’s future prosperity and wellbeing and invests public money wisely.