Long Term Community Plan 2012-2022 - Hurunui District Council

Hurunui Community Long Term Plan 2012 - 2022
Service
Relevant Community
Outcomes
Relevant Issues &
Constraints
Who benefits,
and over what
period
Future Funding & Sustainability
Water Supply
Treatment and
Reticulation of Water
to the following
Water Supply areas:
• Amberley
• Leithfield Beach
• Ashley Rural
• Culverden
• Waiau Town
• Amuri Plains
• Balmoral
• Waiau Rural
• Cheviot
• Waipara
• Hanmer Springs
• Hawarden-Waikari
• Hurunui Rural
The Council’s funding of
Water Supply services
contributes to the
Hurunui district being:
A desirable and safe place
to live:
• We have attractive well
designed townships
• Communities have
access to adequate
health and emergency
services and systems
and resources are
available to meet civil
defence emergencies
• Risks to public health
are identified and
appropriately managed
A place with essential
infrastructure:
• We have a strong
emphasis on service
delivery across
all infrastructure
including roading,
water (for drinking and
development), waste
water, stormwater and
solid waste
Restricted supply
schemes are based on
unmetered, restricted
supply with a maximum
supply per day
irrespective of usage.
Unrestricted schemes
face a number of issues.
There is a need to curb
excess water use. In
addition, bach owners
who use their beaches
infrequently, object to
paying fees for a system
that they say they
hardly use. However,
the system was built to
handle the needs of all
the residents and if they
sold to a permanent
resident that person
would want a system
that could meet their
needs. The existence
of water supply to a
property is reflected
in the value of that
property.
Accordingly, as all
ratepayers own an
equal share in the water
supply system, all users
should meet an equal
component of the fixed
costs of the water
supply that was built to
meet their needs. They
should then pay the
economic marginal cost
of any additional usage.
Costs will be reallocated
across users
and significant change is
expected.
100% private
benefit to users.
Operational Costs:
• Restricted Supply
• As a local Uniform Annual Charge on water unit
entitlement.
Unrestricted Supply:
• Fixed costs – As a local Uniform Annual Charge.
Variable Costs :
• As a set price based per cubic meter of water as
recorded by the individual water meters.
Capital Costs:
• Significant Council capital expenditure should be
funded by loan for the life of the investment; if loans
are not raised then it will be treated as a fixed cost
and funded from annual rates. If any of the Capital
Expenditure caters for future growth of the scheme,
then that portion of the expenditure that relates
to growth may be funded from future users via
Development Contributions.
• Landowners with new connections will pay the cost of
connecting to the nearest main plus, if a new subdivide,
putting in the sub-main and any levies as specified in
the Development Contributions policy.
• Property owners wanting new connections will pay
those costs necessary for the connection.
Loan Repayments:
• Significant Council capital expenditure should be
funded by loan for the life of the investment. Repayment
of the loan will be treated as a fixed cost and will be
funded from a local Uniform Annual Charge.
Sustainability:
• The ongoing negative effects on the economic
wellbeing of those who pay for water supply services
will be offset by future gains in social, economic and
environmental well- being.
Increased Drinking Water Standards:
• The increased requirements to meet desired
standards for drinking water place an exceptional (if
not unaffordable) burden on small water schemes.
To fund the increased costs associated with meeting
standards and to avoid the exorbitant fines that will be
imposed on small local authorities who cannot meet
these requirements, the Council is considering funding
all drinking water requirements form a General Rate,
rather than placing that burden on a limited number
of ratepayers.
225