22 February 2024

Media: Radio NZ

Topic: Council finances and forecast three waters infrastructure spending required over next 10 years

Enquiry

Reporter working on a story about three waters spending implications for council long-term plans had the following questions (which were also sent to other councils):

1) What is the council's current debt?

2) What is the forecast three waters infrastructure spending required over the next decade?

3) How many rating units are in the council's boundary?

4) What is the council's current debt limit?

5) What was the council's income for FY 22/23?

6) What is the council's forecast income for FY 23/24?

Response

We provided the following information:

1) What is the council's current debt?

Net debt as at 30 June 2023 was $343 million

2) What is the forecast three waters infrastructure spending required over the next decade?

Council’s draft 2024-34 Long Term Plan includes $424 million of 3 waters infrastructure investment over the 10 years (before inflation)

3) How many rating units are in the council's boundary?

The number of rating units as at 30 June 2023 was 29,158

4) What is the council's current debt limit?

Council has an internally set debt limit of debt being no more than 2.5 x revenue

5) What was the council's income for FY 22/23?

$167.7 million

6) What is the council's forecast income for FY 23/24?

$194.8 million