Annual Plan 2024 - 2025 - Dunedin City Council

Introduction

As you may know, we have recently undertaken consultation on our draft Annual Plan 2024/25. We have received submissions, and we are hearing from many submitters at our hearings on 8 and 9 May 2024. We appreciate the feedback received to date. All submissions received so far will be fully considered when our Councillors make their decisions on the Annual Plan 2024/25.

We now realise that when we undertook that consultation, to comply with all of the provisions of the Local Government Act 2002, we should also have prepared a Consultation Document.

To respond to this, we have prepared this Consultation Document. It contains no new information, but what it does do is bring together in one document the key information that we have presented on our Annual Plan page on our DCC website.

We are also re-opening our submissions on the draft Annual Plan for another week, so if you would still like to make a submission, you can do so until 12.00 p.m. on Wednesday 15 May 2024 – one more week. We will hold hearings on Thursday 16 May 2024 for anyone who wants to be heard.

This Consultation Document identifies significant or material differences between the draft Annual Plan 2024/25 and the content of Council’s 10 year plan 2021-31. It also tells you how you can make a submission on our Draft Annual Plan 2024/25. Our Draft Annual Plan 2024/25 includes the work we are planning to do in the next 12 months for our community.

Annual Plan 2024-25 Consultation Document

What Happened to the 10 Year Plan?

We had been busy working on a 2024-2034 Long Term Plan, but given the recent repeal of 3 Waters legislation, the Government have said that Councils can do an enhanced annual plan instead for this coming year. This is due to uncertainty about the future funding and structure of 3 Waters. As 3 Waters is a significant part of our Council budget, Dunedin City Council decided to do an enhanced annual plan this year, as this gives us an opportunity next year to develop a long-term plan with more certainty.

More information about our decision to prepare an Annual Plan rather than a 10 year plan can be found on our website - Reports and documents On this page you will find a report called “Option to prepare an Annual Plan 2024-25 – Report 27 February 2024”.

Timeline

Submissions open

28 March 2024

Submissions close

12 noon 24 April 2024

Submissions reopen

8 May 2024

Hearings

8 and 9 May

Submissions close

12 noon 15 May 2024

Hearings

16 May 2024

Deliberations and decision

Late May/early June

What we are consulting on

The Rates Increase

Many of the cost increases we are experiencing are beyond our control. They include things like increased energy costs to run our pools and other facilities, insurance costs, and new costs such as compliance monitoring to meet water quality standards.

One of the new costs is the four-bin kerbside rubbish collection. In the 2021– 2031 Long Term Plan we consulted and agreed on the new kerbside service, which starts in July 2024. The cost of that is a 4.4% rate increase, or $301.50 per household, making it about $5.80 per week. But you’ll have great new services such as garden and food waste collection, and you won’t have to buy any more DCC black plastic rubbish bags.

We are proposing a rate increase of 13.1%, plus 4.4% for kerbside collection services, which is higher than the 6.0% provided for in year four of our 10 year plan, and higher than the Financial Strategy rate limit of 6.5%. This rate increase will maintain our current levels of service, and provide our new kerbside collection service. This decision follows an extensive review of our operations and budgets, while also reflecting our commitment to the city’s wellbeing today and into the future.

To see the impact of the proposed rates increase, sample rate accounts showing the proposed change in rates from the 2023/24 year can be found at www.dunedin.govt.nz/2024AP-finances. In addition, proposed rates are provided for all properties online at www.dunedin.govt.nz/rates

We understand that this increase is challenging. We have options for paying your rates in smaller amounts, like a weekly or fortnightly direct debit payment. More information can be found online at dunedin.govt.nz/rates, or call us on 03 477 4000.

Community Housing

The Dunedin City Council has 940 units in its Community Housing portfolio which are prioritised for people aged over 55 years and in urgent need of housing. The portfolio complements other social and community housing providers in the city that prioritise other groups, e.g., families.

The draft Annual Plan 2024/25 budget for Community Housing is based on an 11% ($14 – $25 per week) increase in rent. An 11% increase in rent would cover the increased cost to operate the portfolio, including rates, insurance, and the new kerbside collection service.

Tell us what you think by making a submission on the draft Annual Plan 2024/25.

Tenants will be consulted with directly as part of the consultation. Staff will report back to Council with a summary of feedback during deliberations in May 2024.

More information about our proposal to increase our community housing rental can be found on the Reports and documents page On this page you will find a report called “Community Housing Fees and Charges - Report 12 March 2024”.

Hockey Turf Replacement

We’re thinking about the most cost-effective way that the two hockey turfs at Logan Park can be upgraded so they continue to provide good facilities for our community.

The turfs are currently owned by the Otago Hockey Association, and the Council provided funding to assist the Otago Hockey Association to build them in 2009 and 2012. They are now nearing the end of their useful life and need an upgrade.

The Association and the Council think the most cost-effective way to do this is for Council to take ownership of the turfs, borrow money to upgrade them, and then lease them back to the Hockey Association.

More information about our hockey turf replacement proposal can be found on the Reports and documents page. On this page you will find a report called “Options for the replacement of the hockey turfs at Logan Park - Report 12 March 2024”.

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Making a Submission

We have decided to re-open our submission period for one more week. If you would still like to make a submission, please go to our online submission form at dunedin.govt.nz/2024AP or email annual.plan@dcc.govt.nz. A submission form that you can also fill in and drop off to the DCC is attached.

Further submissions will close at noon on Wednesday 15 May 2024, and further hearings on this Annual Plan will be held on Thursday 16 May 2024.

Annual Plan 2024 submission form

Where to send your submission

Download: Annual Plan 2024-25 Feedback Form

Drop your submission to any Dunedin City Council library or service centre.

Mail to: Freepost 247608, Annual Plan, Dunedin City Council, PO Box 5045, Dunedin 9054

Annual Plan 2024 - 2025

Introduction

Annual Plan 2024-25 Consultation Document

Timeline

What we are consulting on

The Rates Increase

Community Housing

Hockey Turf Replacement

Making a Submission

Where to send your submission

What you told us

Annual Plan 2024 submissions - comments

Annual Plan 2024 - submissions received

Annual Plan 2024 submissions - by topic

Information and reports

Planned activities

Other Matters

Proposed fees and charges

Finances

Supporting information and documents

Elected members and council structure

Early Engagement

Annual Plan FAQs