Annual Plan 2026/27 adopted

Buller District Council yesterday adopted a 5.8% overall increase in total rates, deferred senior housing rent rises and proceeding with Westport’s stormwater integration project next year as they finalised the Annual Plan 2026/27. 

When this year’s Draft Annual Plan was adopted in March councillors determined to reduce the 9.05% rates increase proposed in last year’s Long-Term Plan.  Consultation on proposed changes to the annual plan took place in April and May, followed by hearings in May in which submitters put forward their feedback, and councillors deliberated on key decisions.   

Last year Council had foreshadowed an increase to senior housing rents to be cost-neutral for ratepayers. Recent concerns about the effects of steep rent increases on seniors led councillors to resolve in late May to review the rent rises as part of the 2027 – 2037 Long-Term Plan. 

Council had consulted the community about proceeding with Westport’s stormwater integration project in the 2027 financial year. The $8.7m project funding is shared between the Government’s Kānoa Regional Infrastructure Fund ($5,271,735, 60% of the project cost) and council ($3,494,490, 40%) for mobile pumps and outlets along the new flood walls.  After hearing from submitters, councillors had resolved to proceed with the project. 

The Annual Plan 2026/27 is effective from today.