Today we deliberated on the 2025/26 Annual Plan. Thirteen Councillors in the room and two online. I have attempted to put the majority of the decisions requiring debate in.

We started with Public Transport, where we supported the 2-zone fare structure commencing February 2026 and the trial of additional capacity on Route 86 Darfield to Christchurch, until a decision is made in the Long-Term Plan 2027-37.

We lost the amendment by Clr Sunkell to provide a 2-year trial for a Darfield Rolleston bus service, utilising $150,000 per annum of Public Transport reserve monies to reduce the targeted rate, and subject to fleet availability. I called for division with Byrnes, Edge, Robinson, Sunkell, Southworth, Korako hoping it would succeed (although Clr Korako spoke against it and was online, so may have mixed his vote)
However, the no’s had the numbers, Swiggs, McKay, Scott, East, Ward, MacKenzie, Pauling, and Davies abstaining.

Sadly, we were left with no choice but to postpone the electric vehicle replacement and infrastructure programme in 2025/26 and 26/27 due to assumptions made through private revenue ratio targets. We must convince this current government that Public Transport is not just a good idea, it is an imperative, and it will not be any cheaper than today.

We did however approve the Network Safety Officer team as a permanent public transport activity. A number of submissions acknowledged feeling safer due to this

When we got on to fees and charges, I have never heard such self-serving dribble as we discussed increasing the hourly charge out, to process consents, if you have the time check out the meeting recording
We went out with increasing the hourly rate for consent processing of 14.1% taking the user pay revenue to 66% (within our 60-80% band).

However, Clr Southworth put forward an amendment to increase by 25% taking the user pay revenue to 75%. That is still a 25% subsidy from the general rate. A number recommended by several people during oral submissions.
When the amendment was put, it was defeated 8 – 7 with East, Ward, MacKenzie, Swiggs, McKay, Scott, Sucknell and Korako voting against it

How you can possibly think that the general rate subsidising the hourly charge by 34% is fair especially after going on about user pays elsewhere, I hope being too close to consents didn’t influence their decisions, but you be the judge.

Councillor Davies put forward an amendment to keep the 525k Regional Rail Studies funding in the Long-Term Plan for 2025/26 rather than defer it until 2027/28. The final text of the resolution which was adopted is on the attached photo.

Councillor Edge tried to increase the waitaha fund by 300k for indigenous biodiversity projects and $150k for biosecurity for site specific weed control of emerging garden escapees, a major issue and points raised in a number of submissions.
The outcry from those that had earlier in the day supported a 34% hourly rate subsidy from general rates was almost laughable as they took turns to explain how they couldn’t support the motion due to the impact upon the ratepayer pocket. A number took offence when the word hypocrisy was mentioned.
The call for division showed Ward, Sunkell , McKay, Scott, Swiggs East, Mackenzie and Korako had the numbers so that put an end to that

And that’s democracy at its simplest form, you have the numbers, you get the decision.

All in all, contributions from around the table, a large decrease in the rate forecast from that in year two of the LTP, driven mainly by the Crown around Public Transport. Next stop, adoption at the June Council meeting.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to put in a submission, especially those that spoke to theirs, and to all of staff involved, whether in the room today or not, it requires a significant amount of work.