24 March 2009
The way the Takaka fire fighting water supply is funded may change as a result of public submissions received.
In February 2009 Tasman District Council consulted with Takaka businesses and residents on a proposal to construct a pressurised reticulated fire fighting water supply in the Takaka Central Business District. Council also consulted on how to pay for the water supply.
Council received 54 submissions on the proposal. Those submitters wishing to be heard presented their cases to a Council hearings panel on 10 March 2009. The panel consisted of Councillors Trevor Norriss, Noel Riley and Stuart Borlase.
Cr Norriss, who chaired the panel, said the panel considered all the submissions and is recommending that the Council alter the amounts paid from various funding sources. He noted that the panel’s recommendation was yet to be considered by the full Council and, therefore, the recommended funding split is not reflected in the Council’s draft Ten Year Plan which was released this week.
There are four funding sources for the fire fighting water supply. The original proposal had the whole of Tasman District contributing 10 percent of the cost, the Golden Bay Ward 23 percent, Takaka residential ratepayers 17 percent and Takaka commercial CBD 50 percent.
The panel’s recommendation, following consideration of the submissions, is that the whole Tasman District contributes 10 percent, the Golden Bay Ward (excluding Takaka residential and commercial properties) 35 percent (this is a change from $10 to $15 per property), Takaka residential ratepayers 17 percent and Takaka commercial CDB 38 percent. There were also some minor boundary changes to which properties were included in the CDB area.
Cr Norriss said Council’s Engineering Services Committee would receive the panel’s recommendation on 2 April 2009. The recommendation will then feed into the Council’s Ten Year Plan for consideration, prior to the final Plan being adopted in June 2009.
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