Annual Plan 2008 - 2009

The Annual Plan for 2008/09 has been prepared by Council and staff , using the 2006 Hurunui Long Term Community Plan (HLTCP) as a base. Whilst the assumptions and projections made in 2006 for the 2008/09 year have obviously changed in some areas (e.g. cost escalations in roading have been far greater than previously forecasted), we have worked hard to maintain as much consistency as possible with our earlier work.

Our task in this has been aided by the fact that our overall guiding principles have not changed.
We continue to base all our planning on these four foundations:

Responsible and prudent financial planning

• Responsible and prudent financial planning
• Sustainable growth and development
• Further advances in service delivery
• Continuing emphasis on core infrastructure

Key highlights in 2008/09

• Total roading spend (operating expense plus capital items) of $6.7 million, up from $5.6 million in 2007/08 and $3.6 million in 2006/07.
  This roading total includes a special one time spend of $400,000 sourced from better than forecast interest earnings. This results in a total of $800,000 of extra funding (matched $ for $ by LTNZ) and will be spent mainly on increased maintenance programmes on sealed and unsealed roads, and on other programmes over 2 years.
• $384,000 for additional pensioner housing stock.
• Provision of $3.4 million for the acquisition of the Queen Mary Hospital site in Hanmer Springs, consistent with the 2006 HLTCP, but with a delayed date of July 2009 for actual settlement date. This revised assumption results in a further year’s interest earnings for Council.
• The Plan incorporates the latest progress on town developments for Hanmer Springs (major town centre upgrade and “streetscaping”) and Amberley (concurrent notification of the comprehensive zoning and development driven plan change and infrastructure schedules). The Hanmer Springs plans are reflected in increased amenity rates (subject to submissions) and amended development contributions for Amberley (also out for consultation).
• Water supply remains a substantial area of Council expenditure, projected at $5.4 million in 08/09, up from $4.6 million in 07/08. Major programmes include new town supply bores in Amberley and Waipara, and ongoing extensive line replacement and pump upgrades across the District.
• The budgeted cost increases in waste handling and disposal are a major concern to the Waste Board and Council, having increased 50% since 2006 to a new total of $1.5 million in 08/09, due to District growth and escalation in collection and landfill costs. Efforts to address these issues will be intensified.
• The budget includes the funding for relocation of the Amberley transfer station, delayed from the 07/08 Plan.
• The Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools and Spa is budgeted for strong surpluses in 08/09 ($2.4 million, up from $1.5 million three years ago), reflecting the success of the complex as NZ’s leading visitor attraction and the returns from the new $3 million Spa facility. Council’s strategy continues to be to apply maximum leverage to use these surpluses for the benefit of the entire District wherever possible.
• Biodiversity grant funding from central government to fund initiatives such as the high profile “Greening Waipara” programme.
  

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Annual Plan Contents