This is an information document on year two of Ōpōtiki District Council’s Long Term Plan 2015-25.

WE’RE ON TRACK... A lot of work went into preparing the 2015-25 Long Term Plan. We’re happy that we have built a strong foundation with the plan and we intend to stick to the existing programme of work and levels of service with only a few minor differences.

While residents will be able to provide feedback on the minor changes to this plan and the development of future plans , there won’t be a consultation document and consultation process under section 82 of the Local Government Act.

Changes made to the act in 2014 included removing the requirement for councils to produce a draft annual plan and in some cases enabling them to go straight to a final annual plan and rating resolution.

Our Long Term Plan process was comprehensive and robust and we are happy with how those plans are tracking. As we are not proposing significant changes or material differences from the content in the Long Term Plan then under the Act we are able to save ratepayers the cost of conducting a full consultation process.

Aileen Lawrie, CEO

John Forbes, Mayor

MAJOR PROJECTS FOR 2016-17 Our major capital works programme remains largely unchanged.

Major projects include:

Land Transport The projects in this activity allow Council to maintain the roading network to the current standards while allowing for shifts in NZTA funding arrangements.

Bridging

Pakihi Bridge replacement, scheduled in 2014-15 and carried over to this year has been delayed as the final tendered price exceeded budget. The project is in process with an alternative design under consideration and if accepted construction is expected to start in July 2016.

Ngarue Bridge replacement in Whangaparaoa has been designed this year and will be installed in 2016-17.

Seal Extensions

Council has stated that they will continue to seal unsealed roads where a 60% contribution is provided by those requesting the seal extension. A maximum of 2km will be considered for sealing on an annual basis.

Council invites those that wish to have their roads sealed, and are willing to contribute 60% towards the cost of doing so, to make an application to Council.

Water Supplies Water supply upgrades are planned for the Otara Road trunk main including Clarks Crossing and Factory Road. This will improve resilience between the main wells and the treatment plant.

A replacement lid will be installed on the Ōpōtiki treated water reservoir.

New pipeline extensions will be undertaken in Te Kaha completing the southern extension started in 2015-16. A further extension will be installed in the northern area.

Wastewater Ōpōtiki townships waste water reticulation is approaching the end of its useful life and the frequency of failures is increasing.

In 2016-17 Council will conclude house to house inflow investigations and repairs as required in the part of Ōpōtiki township north of Elliot St which was determined as the test area. Staff will also arrange condition assessments to determine the extent of infiltration in the deeper Council reticulation mains. From this information Council, guided by the Sewerage Upgrade Steering Committee, will determine the most cost effective way to reduce the excessive inflow and infiltration to acceptable levels. This will result in overflows in the current reticulation being eliminated.

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From the air— Te Ahiaua (Pipi beds), Waiōtahe, Ōpōtiki—Photo courtesy Rob Donald

Harbour Development The Ōpōtiki Harbour Transformation project will create an all-tide, all-weather navigable entrance to allow the development of the rapidly growing aquaculture industry offshore from Ōpōtiki. It will also enable a range of other marine related activities and businesses to establish and prosper. The Council, in partnership with the New Zealand government and the Bay of Plenty Regional Council, are in the final stages of planning the required infrastructure - two 500 metre long training walls, one-off dredging to form the navigable channel, and the closure of the existing harbour entrance. Council is also addressing other infrastructure needs such as wharfage, sewerage, as well as enabling marine uses through a district plan change.

The coming year will see the continued progress towards the start of construction. Final geotechnical work will be underway early in the financial year, with a contestable design process expected to deliver us a final offer to build the harbour towards the end of the financial year. A range of supporting projects are also underway, some led by Council and others by its aquaculture and iwi partners, Toi-EDA, the Bay of Plenty Regional Council, and government. Some of these are essential infrastructure projects while others are designed to increase the value that will be delivered through such things as other users and innovation.

Stormwater The first stage of planning for the Tarawa Creek Flood Storage area in Ōpōtiki will be developed. Investigations continue into a separate water storage area as an alternative to pumping as Council considers a number of options to combat the scheme suffering from poor performance during high rainfall events.

Property The redevelopment of the Ōpōtiki Library is a long time community aspiration. The new complex to be named Te Tāhuhu o Te Rangi is scheduled for years 1 and 2 of the LTP and has advanced to building consent stage. Local fundraising and applications to external grant funders continues and building will commence when Council has raised the required money— anticipated to be in the 2017/18 financial year.

Cover image: From the ground— Te Ahiaua (Pipi beds), Waiōtahe, Ōpōtiki.

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK… We’re not formally consulting but you can still let us know: •Are there projects you would like us to consider in the next rounds of planning? •Are there things we could do better? •Are there things you would like us to do more or less of in the future? Check out our website and send us some feedback at www.odc.govt.nz/annual-plan Or you can call us, write to us or email us at PH 07 3153030, PO Box 44 Ōpōtiki, info@odc.govt.nz

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**As an example a house in Woodlands worth $300,000 will have a rate increase (see red dashed lines in example above) of just over 2% and will pay approximately $2,000 in rates (see green dashed lines in example above).

*Summary rates excluding GST and Regional Council rates

WHAT RATES WILL BE FOR 2016-17

$9.6M CAPITAL EXPENDITURE

NO CHANGE FROM $9.6M AS FORECAST IN LTP

$10.7M OPERATING EXPENDITURE

NO CHANGE FROM $10.7M AS FORECAST IN LTP

$5.8M DEBT

DECREASE FROM $8.8M AS FORECAST IN LTP

$12.6M OPERATING FUNDING

SIMILAR TO $12.7 AS FORECAST IN LTP

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Forecast Funding Impact Statement

Forecast Statement of Financial Position

St Patricks day 2016—Ōpōtiki i-SITE Visitor Information Centre

Beautiful trees and an easy walk—Hukutaia Domain, Ōpōtiki