Are the ways we’ve done things in the past, and the facilities we maintain, fit for purpose and cost-effective going forward?
That’s a question Hutt City Council is asking itself on a number of fronts in an effort to keep a lid on rates rises.
Everyone, including councillors, winced at the eye-watering 16.9% rates increase this year. The cost pressures forcing that – failing infrastructure, debt interest, rising contractor/staff, insurance and material costs – haven’t gone away.
To try and lighten the rates burden on households and businesses, and squeeze maximum bang for buck, we need to look at doing things differently – maybe even reducing service expectations.
That’s why we teamed up with Maungaraki School to run a joint school/community library. In Eastbourne, volunteers have come on board to enable us to extend the season of the Bays’ summer pool.
Other examples that illustrate some of the thinking going on are a reassessment of council’s ‘built assets’ – halls (5), buildings leased to community groups (14), community houses (6), hubs/libraries (8), toilets and changing rooms (40), wharves/jetties and boat ramps (7), pool complexes (6) and 60-70 other buildings/facilities – and the option of “low mow” reserves.
For built assets, a review of asset management plans shows $81.3 million of maintenance and renewal costs in the next decade, but only $50.1m budgeted. (Note, the figures include $24m for Petone Wharf, when we’re now aiming to tackle that for a maximum of $12m.)
In short, we can’t afford to keep and maintain all that we have.
Councillors have resolved to open up discussions with residents on what should be the priorities, guided by such things as equity of access, existing rates of use, future need, etc.
There is demand from new groups and new activities, but we can’t build more facilities, so we want to optimise the ones we have by encouraging sharing and hubbing (this might mean revisiting some historic arrangements).
We are increasing fees for using them so it’s a fair balance between ratepayers and the people getting the benefit from them; and we are open to conversations on divestment to community groups, where groups can show they can manage the cost.
Divestment consultations are already underway over Belmont’s Hardwick-Smith Lounge and the Gibbes Watson and Tutukiwi conservatories in the civic gardens.
These are difficult conversations to have, but as we’ve learned with our water pipes, kicking the can down the road just makes the costs and consequences worse.
Easing pressure on rates should also come from ‘low mow’.
Low-mow meadows are a lower cost way to manage green spaces that are insect-friendly, have environmental benefits, and provide a more natural feel.
Instead of mowing on a fortnightly rotation the grass is left to grow over spring and summer.
Other councils have used this approach with success and we’re going to trial it from November on a 700m2 area of grass near Waione Bridge.
Mowing this area currently costs ratepayers around $1,000 per month but low mow will reduce the area that needs mowing by about 75%.
If it’s successful, council will extend low mow to other locations in 2025, cutting the cost of Parks & Reserves maintenance contracts in the future.
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