Message from the Mayor

A lot has changed since we last talked to you about our long term plans. We were already facing some big challenges with our basic infrastructure, but with COVID-19 on top of that, we know that this is an uncertain period for households and business alike.

All of this means that our plan for the next ten years needs to be about getting the basics right: the infrastructure and services which underpin everything we do. We have made progress in modernising key services like rubbish and recycling and there is more to do.

Growth is a major challenge, 111,000 people now live in our city and the population will continue to grow quickly. Land for greenspace housing development is limited so the pressure is on to think about housing in a new way and how we're investing to support growth.

Climate change and the forecast impacts on our coastal communities must be planned for.

Our infrastructure is not fit for purpose and in some areas like water it's vitally important that we invest now to avoid problems in the future. We need the right sustainable transport solutions so that our city is better connected.

There are some big projects on the horizon and there's a renewed energy with government support to get projects like Naenae Pool, Melling, RiverLink and the Eastern Bays Shared Path underway. We’re also looking to re-commit to important projects like the Cross Valley Connection in order to address our transport issues in our city

We’re also facing some big financial challenges as we re-prioritise. To meet all of our aspirations we need a financial strategy that allows us to invest in key areas that will get our city moving and meet the challenges of growth. We must get to a more financially sustainable footing and progress more quickly to a balanced budget instead of year-on-year deficits. Overlaying this is a desire to ensure any rates increases are affordable and that the way we charge rates is allocated more reasonably. We also need to ensure that growth pays for growth. This means allocating costs and charges where they fall.

With a growing population we also face some significant housing challenges. We've got to support and lead new partnerships to build more homes that are affordable and to provide a pathway to permanence for people who are renting. Everyone has a right to a warm, safe, dry and affordable home.

We want to support business and to attract the job creators and innovators who will generate the opportunities for tomorrow's workforce as we capitalise on the strong high-tech and manufacturing base in our city. After all, the future is made here.

We also need to transform our business to improve the way we work with our community so you can access services quickly and easily. We want to collect information once and use it many times.

With these challenges come a lot of opportunity, but Council can't do this alone. We require your input and engagement to ensure we have strong, connected and resilient neighbourhoods and communities where all of our people thrive.

Mayor Campbell Barry