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Resolution number GBI/2015/171
MOVED
by Chairperson IM Fordham, seconded by Member JJ Gilbert:
That the Great
Barrier Local Board:
a)
provide the following response on regional rating proposals for
the Governing Body to consider noting that it will agree its final position
on these matters once community feedback is received
i)
In relation to the Uniform Annual
General Charge, the Great Barrier Local Board supports retention of the
current charge on the basis that any increase will increase rates for lower
value properties which predominate on Great Barrier compared to the rest of
the region. It also notes that changing the UAGC would extend the time in which
uniform rate increases can be applied to the entire Auckland region and this
is considered to be a backward step after five years of uncertainty.
ii)
In relation to the Interim Transport
Levy, the Great Barrier Local Board supports retention of the current levy on
the basis that increasing business ratepayers share from $182.85 to $407 will
significantly impact on the small number of business ratepayers on the island
who are already struggling.
iii)
In relation to Maori Land Rates, the
Great Barrier Local Board supports consultation on extending the Maori
freehold land rates remission and postponement policy on the basis that the
proposed changes will enable more Maori ratepayers to take advantage of this
policy.
iv)
In relation to the Rural Rates Review,
the Great Barrier Local Board supports the proposal to consult on recovering
the costs of the proposed decrease in rates on large rural properties from
across the region rather than from small farm/lifestyle blocks noting that
half of all Great Barrier rural and lifestyle properties are small lifestyle
properties
b)
agree the following key advocacy
matters for 2016/17 annual plan consultation
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Initiative
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Why is it a priority?
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Advocating to
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Road
Seal
Increase
regional road seal budgets and develop a road seal priority and maintenance
programme so the island's roads can be sealed and driven on safely.
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The
board continues to support Auckland Transport seeking additional regional
road seal funding but accepts there is no funding for this in 2016/17.
Instead the board has initiated a dust suppressant trail on one of its key
dusty residential roads in partnership with Fulton Hogan and an Australian
company. The product is at no cost to council as the company is keen to
establish its product here and Fulton Hogan are meeting application costs
due to the potential benefit they see from this product’s use elsewhere in
Auckland.
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The
Governing Body
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Glenfern
Sanctuary purchase
Provide
funding to purchase the island’s Glenfern Sanctuary
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Glenfern
Sanctuary is privately owned but is on the market. Purchase of the
sanctuary is a key element in the Great Barrier Local Board’s objective of
creating a centre of excellence supporting, ecological enhancement, and
environmental and sustainability education. Public access to the sanctuary will
also bring additional economic benefit, and enable the community and
visitors to experience endangered species protection work first hand.
A
consortium including Auckland Council is negotiating to purchase the
sanctuary but the current offer is below the owner’s asking price. The
board resolved at its November meeting to contribute an additional $175,000
in the hope this will break the current deadlock. It has also agreed in
principle to allocate operational funding next year if purchase is
achieved.
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The
Governing Body
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Reducing
herbicide use for weed management
Reduce
the use of herbicides for weed management in public places (roads, parks
etc)
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The
Great Barrier Local Board wishes to see the public use of herbicides for
weed management reduced, eliminated and replaced by alternative methods
over time. This supports the community’s wishes that the island is
increasingly free of toxins. This may increase costs as mechanical control
is generally more expensive that chemical control.
The
board is prepared to consider funding additional costs itself but seeks
governing body and Auckland Transport support for moving towards herbicide
free weed management practises where these are practicable.
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The
Governing Body
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Resource
recovery and recycling centre
Develop
a resource recovery and recycling centre to provide a place where locals
can leave or collect materials which still have a useful life
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Auckland
Council’s Waste Solutions Unit is supporting a trial this year to determine
the feasibility of establishing a resource recovery and recycling centre as
this will extend the life of the island’s landfill and delay the time when
refuse needs to be shipped to town. Should the trial be successful Waste
Solutions have indicated support for purchasing or leasing land for a
permanent facility. The board supports funding for this being brought
forward to 2016/17.
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The
Governing Body
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Biodiversity
Role
Create a
part or full time island based biodiversity role to support enhancement of
the islands ecological values
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The
Great Barrier Local Board continues to strongly support, promote and fund
initiatives which protect and enhance the island’s ecology. Locating this
position on the island will significantly enhance the achievement of this
objective and support the existing fully stretched island based full time
biosecurity role.
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The
Governing Body
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c) note that it is not
proposing any targeted rate for consultation.
CARRIED
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