Annual Plan deliberations: Senior rent rises deferred, stormwater to go ahead
Senior housing rent rises planned for July this year will be deferred to the 2027-2037 Long-Term Plan, the Buller District Council decided during last week’s 26/27 Annual Plan deliberations.
In 2025 Council had foreshadowed an increase to senior housing rents to be cost neutral for ratepayers. Concerns about the effects of steep rent increases on seniors led councillors to resolve to include the rent rises in next year’s Long-Term Plan.
The council was meeting primarily to consider 69 submissions on the Draft Annual Plan 2026/27 and to finalise decisions about what to include and leave out.
Fourteen people spoke to their annual plan submissions.
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.
Fifty-one submitters had responded to this question, with 43% indicating a preference for council to co-fund pumps and integrate outlets into the construction of the floodwalls, and the remainder against the initiative.
Chief Executive Officer Simon Pickford says: “Councillors noted and considered the submissions for and against and resolved to proceed with the stormwater integration project.”
Other submissions included a number about Mokihinui water supply issues. The water supply is untreated and would require significant investment to bring it up to legal standards. Council decided to continue working with the Mokihinui community to explore options around decommissioning the registered water supply and exploring alternative drinking water options.
Once the changes resolved last week are incorporated into the final version of the Annual Plan 2026/27, it will be presented to council for adoption at the ordinary council meeting on 30 June 2026 and once adopted, will be effective from 1 July 2026.
-ENDS-
For further information please contact:
Community Engagement Team
Buller District Council
Media.Enquiries@bdc.govt.nz
Disclaimer
The information in this media release was correct at time of publication. Changes in circumstances after the time of publication may impact on the accuracy of the information.