Tauranga City Council commissioners will officially confirm rates rises on July 26. Photo / George Novak
Tauranga City Council commissioners will officially confirm rates rises on July 26. Photo / George Novak
A protest against "untenable and unreasonable" rates rises will be held on July 26, the same day Tauranga City Council's Long-Term Plan will be adopted.
The Tauranga Ratepayers' Alliance has responded to "a lot of demand" from concerned residents by organising the "ratepayers rise up" protest — a marchto the council building from The Strand carpark.
It comes after an overall 22 per cent average rate rise was set last month by commissioners at the conclusion of the Long-Term Plan 2021-31 deliberations.
An alliance steering group member, Ben Sokimi, said it was encouraging people to "join us in our concern and our outrage".
"The ratepayers' alliance believes that council should demonstrate that it can spend people's money wisely as it is before they reach into people's pockets for more," he said.
Chairman of Citizens Advocacy Tauranga Rob Paterson said ratepayers and residents groups were a good thing for Tauranga "to keep the council focused".
"I think any [peaceful] protesting is a good idea. Numbers always focus politicians and councils," he said.
Welcome Bay Rating Advocates representative Richard Prince said he did not think the protest would have much effect on rate rises.
"My experience with the commissioners is they're going to do what is required," he said.
"I think it's important that there are community groups there that are prepared to not accept what the rates could be, but I don't know … if they're going to be very effective."
Welcome Bay Rating Advocates representative Richard Prince did not think the protest would affect the outcome of rates rises. Photo / George Novak
Chairman of the Grace Road Avenues and Neighbourhood Residents Association Phil Green said he had advocated in front of the council for the past 10-12 years that rates should be rising.
"I could see that the city needs revenue. If you don't have your rates going up in comparison to all the other costs, then something has to start hurting. Our infrastructure especially has been really hurting," he said.
"Incremental rates rises over the last 15 years would have been more effective than the static rates that we've had."
Commissioner chairwoman Anne Tolley said the Long-term Plan was a "game changer" that set out to repair years of underinvestment in community facilities and infrastructure.
Tolley said the residential rates rise of 15 per cent on average included the new kerbside collection service, which for many people, replaced a far more costly private sector service.
"A much fairer share of the overall rating burden will now fall on the business sector, as a result of the increase in the commercial differential rate."
The average commercial rise will be 33 per cent.
By their nature, long-term plans could not please everyone, but Tolley said it was heartening to receive so much positive feedback from a wide range of people, organisations and businesses in the consultation and hearing process.
"Given the rates increases required to fund the much-needed and long-delayed investments included in the Long-term Plan, that feedback shows just how much people care about their city and how much they want Tauranga to regain its status as a great place to live, work, play and learn."
Tolley said the commission was appointed as a result of the Government's view the former elected councillors were not able to govern the city effectively.
Commissioner chair Anne Tolley. Photo / George Novak
Regarding the appointment of the commissioners, spokesman for Urban Taskforce for Tauranga Simon Collett said it was time for the community to hear a balanced factual view focused on what is best for the city.
"This contrasts with the 'ratepayer alliance' which appears to be attempting to re-litigate the past," he said.
Collett said the UTF members were locals and business owners who witnessed and endured, in his view, "the embarrassing debacle that was our council".
"We must agree the appointment of the commission was the right decision for this city."
Collett said the UTF supported the continuation of the commission and credited them for the outstanding level of community engagement in the Long-term Plan process.
"We do not agree with all of the decisions of the commissioners, but the reality is that they are making decisions which are well-considered and for the best of the city."
Sokimi said the alliance's single focus was fairer rates, less waste and more transparency for ratepayers.
"That's why we have over 600 members and attract hundreds who are passionate about our city to our meetings," he said.
