Ashburton District Council welcomed the opportunity to comment on Environment Canterbury’s (ECan) draft Long-Term Plan 2021-31 by submitting a formal response as part of the consultation period.

The premise of the submission to ECan is as follows:

• The consultation document proposes options for Environment Canterbury’s programme of work over the next 10 years. Council supports ‘other option’ – composed of statutory work and prior commitments (from option 2), funded through an increase in loan-funding.
• Council does not support the rate rises proposed in options 1 or 2, and favours this third option as a way to reduce the rate rise.
• It is Council’s view that only work that is already committed or required to meet statutory requirements should be progressed at this point and that projects that are not necessary right now, are delayed to help reduce the rate rise.
• Council strongly requests Environment Canterbury reconsiders how the projects included in the plan are funded - through increased use of alternative funding tools, including loan-funding, to reduce the impact of this rate rise as much as is possible.
• Council supports the use of borrowing to fund the development of plans which have a life span of at least 10 years. Council has taken this approach in the past to fund the District Plan, and believes it is an appropriate use of the funding tools that are available to councils.
• The Revenue & Financing Policy appears to take the view that properties with a higher capital value (CV) have an increased ability to afford higher rates. While Council acknowledges that the general rate must be used in some cases, disagrees with this assumption.
• Council opposes the low use of the Uniform Annual General Charge (UAGC) and recommends that Environment Canterbury increases its use of this rating tool.
• Council supports the inclusion of funding towards the Hekeao Hinds MAR project in Year 1 of the draft Long-Term Plan 2021-22. Before any commitment is made by Environment Canterbury to enhance Year 2 funding for the Hekeao Hinds MAR project, we implore you to directly consult with the affected properties (in the Upper, Lower A and Lower B rating zones) of the local Hinds Plains community between the Ashburton and Rangitata Rivers.

Ashburton District Council thanks Environment Canterbury for the opportunity to provide this submission.

Read the full submission here:

Submission to ECan Long Term Plan 2021-31