Selwyn_Times: July 12, 2023

Selwyn Times Wednesday July 12 2023
4
NEWS
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
Water charges set to
What district
increase again in 2024
• By Daniel Alvey
SELWYN RESIDENTS will be
paying even more for their water
in 2024.
Last week the Selwyn Times
reported residents had been
surprised by the increase in their
water bills, which had gone up to
72 cents per cubic metre for 2023.
Metered water bills will rise
again next year, to 80 cents per
cubic metre.
The metered water bill is on
top of a fixed charge of $308 for
water in general rates, up from
$280 last financial year. This
charge is for water connection.
Ratepayers face a 5.9 per cent
increase in their rates this year.
District council enabling
services group manager Kelvin
Mason said there were 117 submissions
from the community
in relation to the council’s Draft
Annual Plan, which is the basis
for how rates and other charges
are set.
“There were a very small number
of responses to any of the
council’s rates,” he said.
For the period of the 2023/24
Annual Plan, the district council
will collect $12,133,63 million in
Water Targeted Rates.
Kelvin Mason
The targeted rates will pay
for a portion of $27,907 million
of water supply capital projects
in the Annual Plan. Many
upgrades are related to growth.
Mason said the district council
uses debt funding to make up
the difference.
“Capital projects that provide
benefits over many years are
incrementally charged to the
ratepayers reflecting the life of
an asset.
“This means the cost burden
is shared by the ratepayer today
and the ratepayer in the future
who will also benefit from the
asset. The council uses debt
funding to cover the asset cost
while rates are being collected
over future years.”
Since 2021 the metered price
has been steadily rising, from 50
HAVE YOUR SAY: What is
your opinion of having to
pay more for water? Email
barry@starmedia.kiwi
Keep responses to 200
words or less
cents to 72 cents over the past
two years.
A Lincoln resident told the
Selwyn Times last week he
thought he had a leak when his
water bill arrived.
“They went from $75 to $113
for six months. The staffer at
the council told me that was for
the summer months so I should
expect to pay more but like
many people, I don’t put much if
any water on the lawns anymore
because of the charges,” the
resident said.
Selwyn water was one of the
cheapest in the country in the
2021/22 Water New Zealand’s
national performance review
– it was the 8th cheapest at an
average of $387 (combined rates
and metered charge), and the
lowest compared to neighbouring
councils Christchurch ($395)
and Waimakariri ($454).
• More on the future of
Selwyn’s water, page 7
THE QUESTION
What is your view on the
increase in water rate
charges to ratepayers in
December to 72 cents, and
another we have just been
told about which will take
the price per cubic metre
to 80 cents for 2024. Is the
increase necessary and
why?
Mayor Sam
Broughton
We are
committed to
continue providing
safe and affordable
drinking water for
our communities. Maintaining
and futureproofing our water
services in the face of Selwyn’s
phenomenal growth requires
investment that our community
have told us is important to
them.
Ellesmere Ward:
Shane Ephia
The new
changes to all rates
including water
were included in
the draft Annual
Plan that was provided for
community engagement. As you
will remember we received 117
submissions with a small number
of submissions in relation to
rates (from memory there was
no direct submissions on water
charges). The 5.9 per cent average
rate increase included changes to
fixed and metered water charges.
The article in the Selwyn Times
indicates that water was on top
of the 5.9 per cent, this is not
correct. Metered water charges
were applied to household
water use based on when meter
reads occurred so that only
consumption in 2022/23 received
the 72 cent charge. For many
properties that was December
2022. The 72 cent rate was
agreed by council in the Annual
Plan for 2022/23. The increase
agreed at this year’s planning
period was in line with the
percentage change that was
agreed in the LTP. I am (aware)
of the current cost pressures
facing all our residents
and sympathise with our
communities.
Rolleston Ward:
Nicole Reid
Drinking water
rates are set
through Long-Term
Plan and Annual
Plan processes
which are consulted with our
community, with council
making decisions considering the
submissions to formalise a final
plan to adopt.
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