Changes to our capital expenditure programme

WHAT WE DO AND WHY WE DO IT

Water is essential for life, health, recreation, and the environment. Across our district, water is also essential for economic development - there are many businesses who rely on us to provide a safe, reliable water supply. Without it, there may be significant disruptions to our tourist operations and economic development

We supply treated drinking water to 18 schemes throughout the district. This involves taking water from lakes, rivers and bores and treating it, storing it, and then distributing to our customers. The water supply activity involves maintaining water treatment plants, water storage reservoirs, pump stations, hydrants, and water pipes.

VARIATION BETWEEN THIS ANNUAL PLAN AND THE LONG-TERM PLAN

The Central Government-led Three Waters Reforms are underway, with the expectation that Council’s responsibility for these assets will cease in July 2024 and be transferred to a newly created entity. Pending the conclusion of this reform process, Council continues to have a responsibility to ensure that we operate and invest in these assets in a prudent manner in order to protect people’s health and the environment.

We are required to ensure that the water that we supply complies with the Drinking Water Standards New Zealand (DWSNZ) to make sure our water supply is safe. We have a number of projects underway to help ensure that all the drinking water we provide meets the performance requirements of all parts of the DSWNZ all of the time.

The costs for completing these projects are now known to be higher than we had anticipated in the Long-term Plan. This is due to several factors including the ongoing economic environment that we have talked about in previous sections, but also the nature of Taupō’s pumice soils and the added reinforcement the infrastructure will require. The budgets were set based on preliminary soil investigations, however detailed geotechnical investigations at each site has since revealed considerably worse ground conditions.

Funding to complete these projects will be met through external borrowings and responsibility for the debts will be transferred to the new three waters entity upon its creation.

KEY PROJECTS

These are the key projects that we have planned for the coming year are:

WHAT WE DO AND WHY WE DO IT

Our transport network provides for the efficient movement of people and goods which is essential for the economic and social wellbeing of the community. We provide a comprehensive local transport network which includes local roads, footpaths, streetlights, cycle paths, bridges, bus shelters, traffic signals, carparking and signage. We also work on improving road safety and ensuring people enjoy easy access to different modes of transport, such as walking and cycling.

Waka Kotahi bears responsibility for managing the state highways within the Taupō district.

VARIATION BETWEEN THIS ANNUAL PLAN AND THE LONG-TERM PLAN

A lot of the work we do is done in partnership with Waikato Regional Council and Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA), especially those that focus on road safety, or economic development. In the coming year, there are a number of low-cost, low risk, road widening projects that Waka Kotahi hasn’t funded as planned. These projects are in the Long-term Plan 2021-31 but the funding shortfall for year two of the Long-term Plan is approximately $1.3 million; and in year three it is approximately $1.4 million. These will need to be met by Council if they are to proceed as planned.

KEY PROJECTS

These are the key projects that we have planned for the coming year are:

WHAT WE DO AND WHY WE DO IT

We offer a range of leisure and recreation opportunities for the benefit of both residents and visitors across the district. These are in the form of parks, reserves, playgrounds, open spaces, multi-purpose sports, entertainment, and event venues, as well as pools, gyms and sports grounds throughout the district. These facilities help to provide for the physical and mental well-being of everyone who spends time in our district.

VARIATION BETWEEN THIS ANNUAL PLAN AND THE LONG-TERM PLAN

Some extra funding is needed from Council to complete work on the central government funded Taupō Town Centre Transformation project and modifications are planned for the delivery of the asbestos removal from Council’s elderly housing for the elderly stock project.

KEY PROJECTS

These are the key projects that we have planned for the coming year are:

WHAT WE DO AND WHY WE DO IT

We collect, treat, and dispose of wastewater from residential, commercial and industrial properties located in our urban areas. We do this through the 12 wastewater schemes we operate across our district and maintain the pipe network and pump stations associated with each network.

The safe treatment and disposal of wastewater is essential to protect the health of our environment and communities. We are required to obtain resource consents from Waikato Regional Council to ensure that we are treating and disposing of the wastewater in a way that protects our environment.

VARIATION BETWEEN THIS ANNUAL PLAN AND THE LONG-TERM PLAN

There are no material variations forecasted between our key wastewater activities for the coming year and those forecasted in the Long-term Plan. Just like with the water projects, funding to complete these wastewater projects will be met through external borrowings and responsibility for the debts will be transferred to the new three waters entity upon its creation.

KEY PROJECTS

These are the key projects that we have planned for the coming year are:

WHAT WE DO AND WHY WE DO IT

We provide a solid waste management system for refuse and recyclables. Our waste services include operating a landfill and resource recovery centre at Broadlands Road, five transfer stations and street litter and recycling bins. We manage solid waste to reduce the likelihood of harm to people and the environment, and to retain the districts attractive appearance for residents and visitors. Our solid waste services also contribute to the community’s environment and economic outcomes.

We are required to obtain resource consents from Waikato Regional Council to ensure that we are treating and disposing of the waste in a way that protects our environment.

VARIATION BETWEEN THIS ANNUAL PLAN AND THE LONG-TERM PLAN

The Broadlands Road Landfill is operated with individual “cells” with its own liner and reticulation system for leachate. When a cell is full, it is capped with soil so that decomposition does not cause adverse environmental effects (odour, methane, uncontrolled toxic leachate etc.). The existing cells have been assessed as having sufficient space and the project to build new cells has been deferred for delivery.

Similarly, the landfill gas flare and liner cover project has also been deferred, pending the renewal of the existing resource consent by Waikato Regional Council. The consent expires in 2027 and work on renewing it has started. If the consent is unable to be renewed, then work on the gas flare will not be able to proceed. A $100,000 grant has been received from the Government for this work, which will now go towards funding a weigh bridge at the Turangi transfer station.

KEY PROJECTS

These are the key projects that we have planned for the coming year are:

WHAT WE DO AND WHY WE DO IT

Council holds a number of investments where there is a community, social, physical or economic benefit from holding the investment.

The type of investments that we have include property and cash which we invest to generate a return. Many of the investments generate income which can be used on projects and initiatives which benefit our residents without impacting on rates. This group of activities contributes to the economic community outcome.

VARIATION BETWEEN THIS ANNUAL PLAN AND THE LONG-TERM PLAN

The major variation between the Annual Plan and Long-term Plan is the bringing forward of the civic administration building fit-out. Although it is in the Long-term Plan, it was not scheduled to start till 2024-25. The project has been brought forward by two years and the budget has also increased. Bringing forward the fit out process will allow us benefit from efficiencies accruable by having the workers doing the construction also installing the required fit out materials.

KEY PROJECTS

These are the key projects that we have planned for the coming year: