Annual report for 2023-2024 approved
Clutha District Council’s annual report for 2023-2024 has been adopted.
Mayor Bryan Cadogan said Clutha was entering a period of rate rises and debt increases with our total capital spend for 2023/24 being $52.5 million, compared with $39.7 million last year and $27.3 million two years ago.
“That’s a staggering 92% increase in just two years. It should come as no surprise that the main culprit for these increases is the imperative of three waters.”
Three waters capital spend for 2023/24 was $32.2m, and roading was $16m.
“This makes up almost 92% of all that we do, which has influenced all other aspects of council’s operations. This results in an increase in rates and debt, combined with restrictions on every other line in other budgets, to try and
contain the insatiable demands.”
Council’s Annual Report was audited by Deloitte New Zealand.
Annual Reports are part of a cycle which includes Long Term Plans (every three years) and Annual Plans in the two years between Long Term Plans.
The annual report compares the council's actual activities and performance during the year with the planned activities and performance for the year as set out in its 2021/31 Long Term Plan and 2022/23 Annual Plan.
An Annual Report provides a means for council to be accountable to the community for the decisions it has made throughout the financial year.
The final version of the annual report will be available on our website at https://www.cluthadc.govt.nz/council/annual-reports
Clutha’s transport programme adjusted
Council approved changes to its transport programme of works due to a reduction in funding from NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA).
Staff were notified of the NZTA’s 2024-24 Land Transport Programme for the Clutha District Council in mid-September and have had to consider how the reductions would affect what Council had approved in its Long Term Plan 2024-34.
There was a significant reduction in funding for the Walking and Cycling Activity Class ($1.9M) which would mean that the Long-Term Plan Key Performance Indicator (KPI) for Footpaths for 2024-27 would not be able to be achieved.
However, Council approved funding of the work by advancing the NZTA Footpath Renewals
budget allocation for Years 2 & 3 to Year 1 and sourcing the additional Council money from the Roading Deferred Maintenance Fund for the 2024/25 year.
There was also significant reduction in funding for the Low-Cost Low-Risk Improvement Work Category ($2.4M), which meant the two planned projects, Balclutha to Finegand Cycle Path ($1.1M) and the Dual Laning of the Kaitangata Highway under the Balclutha railway bridge ($1.1M), have now been deferred to 2027-30.