Long Term Community Plan 2012-2022 - Hurunui District Council

www.hurunui.govt.nz
strictly those ratepayers who occupy the new developments.
Specifically, the Council has resolved that the portion of the
costs relating to growth for: the Amberley Township Reserves
will reduce to 90% (down from 100%); Amberley Walking and
Cycling Routes at 80% (down from 100%); Amberley Ward
Reserves at 90% (down from 100%) and Conical Hill Reserve
Walkway at 90% (down from 100%).
The Council proposes to introduce one new development
contribution for the Hanmer Springs Domain. As a result of
community discussions, in the preparation of the budgets to be
included in the 2012-2022 Long Term Plan, the Hanmer Springs
Community Board recommended that a total of $1 million be
budgeted for an upgrade to the various facilities situated on the
Hanmer Springs Domain. The full identification of the project
will be undertaken in 2012/2013 with proposed physical works
to be undertaken in 2015/2016. It was resolved that the portion
of the project that relates to growth is estimated at 50%.
Result of Key Changes
The Council’s overriding philosophy in regards to the
Development Contributions was that the level of the individual
contribution should be consistent with the level that has been
charged in the past, with the adjustment for inflation and any
adjustment required as a result of reducing the growth related
portion of the project.
With the uncertain nature of development due to the current
situation in Canterbury as a whole and Christchurch in particular
and coupled with the delays in obtaining updated population
projections, it was felt that there was a need for consistency
of the level of contributions for the short term, in particular in
light of various developments that are in their formative stage
whose feasibility may be reliant on the levels of contributions
not increasing significantly.
On the basis of a consistent level of individual development
contributions received and with a lower level of development
forecast, to ensure that the levels of contributions received is
sufficient to meet the similar level of project costs, the Council
has proposed that the collection period for some of the projects
be extended. This will allow the similar number of developments
that contribute to the cost of the project to be undertaken,
however, it is expected to take longer to achieve that.
Specifics of the Development
Contributions Policy
The specifics of this policy are divided into three main sections,
which identify the rationale and formula for contributions
for: Reserves, Network infrastructure, and Community
infrastructure. These are preceded by a few general policy
statements, as set out below.
Development Contributions
The Council is charging development contributions to ensure
that the growth related capital expenditure identified in this Long
Term Plan (LTP) is recovered from those who directly benefit
from it, rather than from ratepayers. Development contributions
will be charged when the effect of the development, or the
cumulative effect of developments, contribute to the need for
the development of physical works or Council services and
when these works or services have been allowed for in the LTP.
Financial Contributions
The purposes for which Financial Contributions may be taken
under the Resource Management Act 1991 are related to
section 5 of the Act (the sustainable management of natural
and physical resources). A Financial Contribution can be
imposed on a resource consent as long as it is in accordance
with a rule in the district plan.
Financial Contributions in District Plan can be taken to pay the
costs of services such as roads, water supplies, sewerage and
drainage systems which must be developed to address adverse
effects on the environment.
Council uses financial contributions to fund capital expenditure
on infrastructure and community facilities where:
• The development has not been foreseen in the LTP,
but the effect of development directly contributes to
the need for physical works on Council services and
infrastructure; or
• The Council’s population projections do not indicate
that the costs of the Council’s investment will be
recovered within an appropriate timeframe; or
• The costs of Council-funded investment will impact on
existing ratepayers; or
• There is a need to offset adverse environmental effects
that may result from a development, for example to
improve a wetland to offset land disposal.
Financial contributions are also used to take land for any
infrastructure, reserves or other community facility within a
development, where that land or those facilities will vest in the
Council.
Further information on Financial Contributions is available in
the Council’s District Plan.
Basis for Calculation of Contribution
The detailed basis for assessment for developments is explained
for each contribution. There are two broad groups of
contributions. One applies to services and facilities that have a
District wide benefit and the costs are apportioned across the
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