Whakatane's Hazard Mitigation Funding Policy
Whakatane District Council following widespread consultation with the community adopted a Hazard Mitigation Funding Policy which guides in the Council in decision-making on how to fund current and any future disaster projects.
The Policy attempts to balance the issues of affordability, fairness and equity for ratepayers in the District.
Funding Hazard Mitigation Works
Whakatane District Council developed a policy to fund disaster mitigation works necessary across several areas of the District (Matata, Awatapu, Edgecumbe, Otarawairere–Ohope).
The Council agreed to fund the measures through 25-year loans (for capital works) and to share loan repayment and operating costs on a three-tier system - catchment, community and district.
In developing this policy, the Council considered affordability against the distribution of benefits of the protective works across individuals, the community and the District as a whole.
The Council wanted to develop a policy where direct beneficiaries would meet a fair amount of the cost, along with some district-wide contribution.
The policy attempts to balance the need for the measures, the socio-economic status of the community and its ability to pay.
A table showing the rating impact of this policy is available- click on link to view. The table shows the rate progressively increasing until the capital works are completed.
However, in Otarawairere–Ohope, the cost of operating the stormwater and wastewater system will be charged back to the relevant activities and will be funded through the Works and Facilities Rate.
In addition (for Otarawairere), the policy recognises that 50% of the works are hazard mitigation with the other 50% being provision of stormwater services and for improvements to private drainage that are normally paid for by the direct beneficiaries. However, this excludes the costs associated with stormwater from the portion of Otarawairere Road outside the Otarawairere Village boundary, which will be met through the roading rate, funded on a District-wide basis.
The Council is still to make final decisions on the precise works for the Otarawairere-Ohope area, and is currently investigating options for stormwater and wastewater management. Among options being considered is a proposal for a full sewerage scheme.
The community is being consulted on the options before a decision is made. Should the community opt for a full sewerage scheme, the additional cost of the full sewerage scheme, over the cost of establishing a limited sewerage scheme (which requires septic tanks to be retained), will be a cost to the properties being connected to the reticulated scheme (Otarawairere, Cliff and Brown Roads).
The Policy is as follows:
•Funding of the capital, operating and maintenance costs for works across the District is:
�� For properties in the catchment the funding formula is $1,000 or 50% of annual charges per annum, whichever is the lesser; and
�� For properties in the community, the funding formula is $250 or 25% of annual charges per annum, whichever is the lesser, with a community charge applying only once per property; and
�� The balance is funded on a district wide through the general rate.
• For the Ohinekoao works (joint project with Transit NZ, ONTRACK for works on SH2 along the Matata straights), the capital, operating and maintenance costs will be funded District wide through the general rate.
• For Otarawairere-Ohope (excluding costs attributed to the portion of Otarawairere Road outside the village boundary, and any additional cost of providing a full sewerage scheme) works are to be paid for as follows:
�� 50% of the capital costs for stormwater and wastewater to be paid for by the properties in the catchment (Otarawairere, Cliff Road, Brown Road and West End). The private drainage component of the works is to be 100% funded by the catchment.
�� 50% of the capital costs for stormwater and wastewater be treated as disaster mitigation costs and paid for as follows:
- for properties in the catchment the funding formula is $1000 or 50% of annual charges per annum, whichever is the lesser; and
- for properties in the community the funding formula is $250 or 25% of annual charges per annum, whichever is the lesser and the community charge can only apply once per property; and
- the balance is funded district wide through the general rate
�� 100% of the operating costs of the stormwater and wastewater systems are to be charged back to the relevant activity, and funded accordingly.
Definitions
The catchments is defined to include all properties that gain a direct benefit from the works. Matata is divided into three catchments.
Community defined as follows:
�� Matata – generally in accordance with the old Matata Community Board boundaries and the Rural 4 (settlement) zone.
�� Edgecumbe – Edgecumbe township.
�� Awatapu – Whakatane township.
�� Otarawairere – Ohope Beach Community Board boundary.
To view maps showing the catchment areas click on link below: You will need acrobat reader to view these maps.
Awatapu Catchment Map
Matata Catchment Map
Otarawairere/West End Catchment Map