Annual Plan 2025/26
As we shape the Draft Annual Plan for 2025/26, we’ve listened to your feedback, focusing on efficiency and value for money. This Annual Plan sets out what the council will do next year, highlighting where we’ve adjusted course from the Long-Term Plan (LTP).
This year, the only thing we’re consulting on is footpath maintenance and repairs. That’s because NZTA has cut its funding for this, so together we need to decide what to do next. Should we clean footpaths less often to match the lower budget, or should we keep things the same and cover the cost with rates?
We are asking for your feedback on how to fix the parking issues at WaiSplash Pool. Parking is tight, especially during sports events at the nearby domain, and it’s becoming a safety concern. One option is for the Council to buy land to extend the carpark. This wouldn’t cost ratepayers extra, as we could use a reserve fund. Before we make any decisions, we want to know what you think. Should we buy land to expand the carpark? Do you see this as a good long-term investment for the district? As said, we would really like to hear what you think of this plan.
Click on the image below and read our Consultation Document like a real book! Just click on the arrows to turn the pages.
Consultation open from 14 April to 15 May 2025
Get your copy of the consultation document to learn more about the options proposed and make sure you have everything you need to make a submission and share your views.
Check out the Annual Plan 2025/26 consultation document here
Check out the Proposed Annual Plan 2025/26 here
Check out the Proposed Fees and Charges 2025/26 here
How to make a submission
- Make a submission using the online submission form (below)
- Download the fillable PDF, fill it in and email it to submissions@tararuadc.govt.nz
- Fill in a hardcopy form from one of our libraries or customer service centres and drop it in a box in person
- Fill in a hardcopy form and post it to us:
Annual Plan Consultation
FreePost 69367
PO Box 115, Dannevirke 4942
Please note NZ Post delivery timeframes.
FAQ
Annual plans are how we deliver our long-term plans (LTPs) year on year. They identify our budget and activities, the resources to deliver them and where the resources will come from, for example rates or user charges.
The Annual Plan Consultation aims to gather public feedback on the proposed activities, services, and budget changes for the 2025/26 financial year. It highlights key projects and any deviations from the Long Term Plan (LTP).
The Annual Plan is the community's plan - ultimately the Mayor and Councillors approve the final plan. The critical input into their decision making however is community feedback through consultation.
Councillors set a proposal(s) for the Annual Pan plan which then is provided to the public for consultation.
The consultation will lay out Council's proposal along with alternative options and the benefits, costs and risks of each. Councillors then review public feedback once it is in and make their final decision of what is or is not in the plan.
The projected rates increase is approximately 7.7%, down from the initially projected 11.30%.
While the overall rates increase is about 7.7%, more than half (57.83%) of the rates increase consist of water services costs. Here’s how much each part has increased on average:
- Drinking water – 48.01%
- Wastewater – 6.84%
- Stormwater – 2.98%
The remaining 42.17% of the rates comes from all other Council services (for example community facilities and services makes up 36.61%). On the other hand, significant savings have been made in other areas such as kerbside recycling – several cost saving measures have been put in place such as bringing this service in-house. The average rates for kerbside recycling has gone down by 19.63%.
We are asking the public on their thoughts on footpath maintenance and renewals.
After our LTP was adopted, NZTA confirmed that the approved funding for footpaths was less than what Council had requested and budgeted for. As a result of this reduced funding, Council will not be able to maintain footpaths as before.
This means there will be a reduced cleaning schedule and only minor faults on footpaths will be addressed with a temporary dressing coat. We also won’t be able to carry out any major renewals to the footpaths.
We now want to consult with the public about whether we should compensate for the funding shortfall by funding it entirely through rates. This would allow us to continue doing priority maintenance work and address some of the repairs required to our footpaths.
Check out more information in our consultation document here.
The Tararua Aquatic Community Trust (TACT) has submitted a proposal to the Council help solve an ongoing issue – parking at WaiSplash pool in Dannevirke. The pool is owned by the trust, but the land it sits on belongs to Council.
Council is considering options to resolve the lack of parking issue, including purchasing additional land to allow for a carpark extension.
You can read more information in our consultation document here.
Inform items in the document include:
- 17A Reviews
- Land Rationalisation
- Integration of Services
- Pensioner Housing
- Pahiatua Wastewater Treatment Plant
- Pahiatua Pool
- Local Water Done Well
Other information includes:
- Quick facts – what changed from our LTP Year 2 for 2025-26 compared to our proposed Annual Plan
- Annual Plan at a glance – expenditure and funding
- Where your rates go
- Proposed rates changes
- Major capital projects
We will be consulting on the proposals in the Annual Plan until 15 May 2025. Following that, the final plan is due to be adopted by Council by25 June 2025 and will then be available on our website shortly after.
You can submit your feedback online here. Alternatively you can download the PDF submission form or pick one up from one of our service centres, and either email it to submissions@tararuadc.govt.nz or send to:
Local Water Done Well Consultation, FreePost 69367, PO Box 115, Dannevirke 4942
All feedback or submissions are classed as public information because, within local government, we are obligated around decision making to be as transparent as possible. Your name and any organisation you represent will be published online, however, we won't publish any personal contact or address information.
No, you are not obliged to appear at a hearing, but you have the right to make your submission personally.
If you wish to make your submission personally, please indicate this on your submission.
Our hearing date is on Wednesday 21 May 2025 - the time will be published on our main Tararua District Website at Agendas & Minutes