Infrastructure work blamed for 3.9 per cent Wellington City Council rates increase in draft annual plan

Friday, 8 March 2019

Strengthening work on the Town Hall and St James Theatre will be among projects that will see the biggest cash increases under the draft 2019/20 annual plan.

Wellingtonians will cough up an extra 3.9 per cent in rates and dish out more money for parking if the 2019/20 draft annual plan is approved.

Strengthening work on the Town Hall and St James Theatre will be among projects that will see the biggest cash increases alongside: water network renewals, community halls, wellington waterfront development, central city framework, roads, and housing operations and maintenance.

The Wellington convention centre project has been given almost $17 million to kick start construction over the next two years.

It's hoped parking fee increases to various metered, coupon and residential parking will earn more than $2 million worth of revenue.

Wellington City Council released the details on its proposals on Friday, which will be open for public consultation in April before it's adopted in June.

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It's hoped parking fee increases to various metered, coupon and residential parking will earn more than $2m worth of revenue. It includes recommendations to limit free parking for Freyberg Pool and Gym members to two hours a day, increase coupon parking from $8.50 to $12-15, change upper Cuba St's one-hour free parking to two-hour metered parking, trial CCTV cameras to capture law-breakers, and increase city fringe parking to $2.50 an hour.

Extra money is needed to complete earthquake strengthening work at Wellington's St James Theatre.

Alcohol licensing fees are proposed to increase by 32 per cent over the next two years in a bid to 'recover costs'.

There will also be a focus on homelessness with a $223,000 boost and the Let's Get Wellington Moving project.

Mayor Justin Lester said the rates increase accounted for the capital's population growth – predicted to increase by about 72,100 people, over the next 25 years – which put pressure on infrastructure such as water, waste and roads. Large-scale projects were in favour, he said.

'Wellington is growing and that is putting pressure on all aspects of the city, including the three waters [reservoirs], housing and streets. There are competing demands for the services we provide: bus lanes, parking, cycling and pedestrian infrastructure.'

The plan laid groundwork for environment, housing, transport, arts and culture, and growth to ensure Wellington remained one of the world's 'most liveable cities'.

Projects like the Town Hall were 'really important cultural assets which the city would 'struggle' without. When asked if budget blow-outs were forecast for such projects Lester said the council had contingency plans.

'We're in a really complex construction market, with prices going up and construction firms really struggling … it's a difficult time in a busy market.'

A budget of $2,131,000 has been set aside for 'improving, maintaining and enhancing' Wellington's waterfront.

Timeline:

March 14: Annual Plan Committee meets

April 1 to 29: Public consultation

April 9: Virtual forum

June 3: Final draft goes to committee

June 26: Plan adopted

July 26: Plan printed