My Account
A climate change targeted rate and changed waste collection services are two of the initiatives in Auckland Council’s annual budget, which will be released for public feedback on February 28.
The budget also proposes an average general rates increase at 3.5 per cent for 2022/23.
Mayor Phil Goff says the budget puts a strong focus on tackling climate change, while responding to the immediate financial pressures faced by Council and continuing critical investment in strengthening Auckland’s infrastructure.
“We are already experiencing the impacts of climate change – 2021 was the hottest year in New Zealand since records began 110 years ago and we are seeing increasingly frequent extreme weather such as droughts and flooding,” he says.
“Funding raised by the proposed Climate Action Targeted Rate will lay the foundation for the urgent action we need to take to avoid our children and grandchildren becoming the victims of a climate disaster. At a cost of around $1.10 a week for the median-value residential property, it will attract co-funding from government and is a critical investment in our kids’ futures.”
The rate will help fund low emission public transport and increase safe walking and cycling options to address transport emissions. Tree planting will also be funded to reduce the city’s vulnerability to extreme heat. Council estimates the rate will raise $1.045 billion over 10 years.
However, at an extraordinary Finance and Performance Committee meeting last week, Rodney Councillor Greg
Sayers said he was uncomfortable with the trajectory Council was taking.
Sayers believed that the proposed action from the climate change rate was the domain of central government, not local government.
Mayor Goff disagreed.
“Nobody is going to do it for us, we have to do it ourselves,” Goff said.
“Every one of us voted for the climate emergency. It’s not good enough just to recognise it, we have to do something about it.”
Sayers was not alone in his criticism of the new rate. Cr Wayne Walker called the proposal “fluffy stuff” as there were no tangible markers for how much reduction could be expected from the proposal.
Walker was told a memo had been made available to him with this information, but it was unclear whether that information would be made available to the public.
Walker said that without this information, it was “almost impossible for anyone to gauge whether they’re getting a good bang for their buck”.
Cr Linda Cooper rebuffed the idea that the public needed such precise measures.
“While it’s not quantifiable down to the cubic metre, if you get people out of cars and into buses you will have an emissions reduction,” Cooper said.
“This is about public transport, really. We all know that reduces emissions. Any reasonable person understands that.”
Waste reform
Council’s three main priorities in the budget are climate action, managing budget pressures and waste minimisation reform.
Council is proposing that Auckland move to a region-wide rates-funded refuse collection service by 2024. The system would offer three rubbish bin sizes – 80, 120 and 240 litres – to suit the needs of every household.
Council estimates that this model will be cheaper than the current pay-as-you-throw (PAYT) model as the charge would remain the same no matter where you live.
However, properties would be able to opt out of the service and bags would still be available in rural areas.
The proposal is a part of the Waste Management and Minimisation Plan 2018, which is aiming for a zero waste future in Tamaki Makaurau.
The proposal is based on the idea that users will opt for smaller bins and reduce their waste.
Food scrap bins would be expanded next year and will also be funded through rates.
Feedback on the budget will run from February 28 to March 28. It can be provided online, via email, by phone, post and at Have Your Say events.
Info: https://ourauckland.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/news/2022/02/annual-budget-2022-23-consultation-confirmed/
