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Warkworth commercial property and business owners are being asked to support a 40 per cent increase in the annual Business Improvement District (BID) targeted rate, which would boost funding for business association One Mahurangi by $58,000 a year.
Voting opened on October 30 and closes on November 30, with the association proposing to lift its annual targeted rate income from $145,000 to $203,000.
The rate, paid by owners of commercially rated properties within the Warkworth BID boundary, has remained at a flat $500 per property since the BID was established in 2020.
One Mahurangi manager Richard Hutchinson says Auckland Council no longer accepts the existing fixed-rate arrangement, prompting the association to propose a new rating model.
Under the proposal, the annual charge would increase to $700 per property, with no additional charge based on capital value.
The association’s draft 2027/28 business plan outlines how the additional funding would be spent, including increased staffing hours, business promotion, signage and public amenity improvements.
However, nearly three-quarters of the proposed $291,800 expenditure budget ($215,800) would go towards administration and staffing. The association says this would reduce the proportion of its budget spent on these costs from around 85 per cent to 74 per cent, while allowing existing part-time staff to work additional hours.
Marketing and promotion would receive a significant boost, increasing from $12,000 to $30,000.
This would include $15,000 for destination promotion through initiatives such as WarkworthNZ, $10,000 to promote four commercial areas – Warkworth Village, The Grange, Woodcocks Industrial Park and Kowhai Falls – and $5000 for attracting new businesses.
Despite identifying traffic, access, signage and public amenities as priorities, just $17,500, or six per cent of the proposed expenditure budget, has been allocated to physical improvements.
This includes $10,000 for destination signage, $2500 for traffic management and review, and $5000 for public amenities.
The plan does not identify specific projects or locations, although the association aims to have at least one visible improvement completed or under contract during the financial year, subject to the ballot succeeding.
Other performance targets include supporting at least two events or town centre activities, producing 12 member newsletters, holding eight networking or briefing opportunities, and taking substantive action on three advocacy priorities.
The plan also proposes strengthening One Mahurangi’s relationship with Rodney Local Board, particularly around business development, employment opportunities and advocacy.
Meanwhile, the Warkworth Information Centre would continue under a revised operating model, with greater reliance on volunteers, advertising, retail sales and partnerships to improve its financial sustainability.
The proposed additional BID funding would not be used to expand the centre.
The outcome of the ballot will determine whether One Mahurangi proceeds with its expanded programme or continues operating under its existing funding arrangements.
Who’s eligible to vote?
According to One Mahurangi’s official ballot information, eligible voters include:
• Commercial property owners or ratepayers within the BID area.
• Businesses and tenants operating from premises within the BID area, even if they do not own the property.
• Owner-occupiers, although an entity that is both the ratepayer and business occupier generally receives only one vote.
The ballot requires at least 25 per cent participation, with at least 51 per cent of returned votes supporting the proposal for it to achieve a mandate.
To find out more or ask any questions, One Mahurangi has organised drop-in sessions at Spot X Café in Morrison Drive on Thursday November 12, from 8.30am; and in the back room at the Bridgehouse on Tuesday November 17, at 5.30pm.
