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Businesses in Ōrewa will pay 4 percent more to Destination Ōrewa Beach (DOB) this financial year (2022/23) after the Hibiscus & Bays Local Board gave the proposed increase its seal of approval this month.
DOB is the area’s only Business Improvement District (BID), which means it charges a levy/targeted rate to all businesses within its area. This is collected by Auckland Council, and any increase in the rate must be approved by the local board and Council.
The rate funds DOB activities that support Ōrewa businesses, including promotional activities, events, networking and lobbying on a range of issues.
The 4 percent increase is the largest among BIDs in this area, by a narrow margin, and represents a $10,448 rise in the rate collected by DOB, from $261,216 in 2021/22 to $271,665 in 2022/23.
Other BIDs in this local board area voted for a range of increases, from zero (Torbay) to 3.33 percent (Browns Bay).
Across Auckland’s 50 BIDs, 26 increased their targeted rates (by 1.6 percent to 10 percent) and the remaining 24 voted for no increase.
The DOB board voted for the increase to ensure that the BID levy and DOB budget, keeps up with any consumer price index increases.
DOB’s Hellen Wilkins says a regular annual small increase in the rate is preferred over not having an increase at all, or having a lower increase and needing a higher one in future to catch up.
