Better future: Our Draft 2020/21 Annual Plan

Survey feedback is now closed.

Update 18 June

Today, our Council formally adopted the 2020/21 Annual Plan and set the rates for the coming year (1 July 2020 to 30 June 2021). We would like to thank all those who gave feedback.

Here's a Summary of the Feedback on the Draft 2020/21 Annual Plan and Better Future Survey.

The activities proposed are largely unchanged from those agreed when the Long-Term Plan 2018-2028 was consulted on in 2018.

Better future

Our new Council has made climate change a top priority, as well as freshwater and biodiversity.

We are also investing in sustainable public transport services. We continue to support the activities the community has asked for and to find out your priorities for a better future.

Council strike rates

Council will increase its total rates revenue by 4% in the 2020/21 financial year.

This is 5.8% less than originally proposed when the draft plan was put out for community feedback. Savings were made by using cash reserves and reducing reserve cash build-up for flood protection and general activities. Lower inflation estimates post-COVID also reduce rates.

Reducing cash reserves may mean borrowing to cover the costs of unforeseen events, like floods.

Breaking down the 4%

The 4% refers to the increase in the total amount received from rates from 2019/20 which includes:

  • 2.3% for inflation
  • 0.8% for public transport service improvements

and provision for spending on priority work programmes for:

  • 0.5% coastal environment plan
  • 0.15% climate engagement
  • 0.25% tree planting and regeneration initiative.

How will this affect me?

Individual ratepayers pay different rates depending on the size and location of their property. Check out our Sample Property Rates Table.


Update 18 June

Today, our Council formally adopted the 2020/21 Annual Plan and set the rates for the coming year (1 July 2020 to 30 June 2021). We would like to thank all those who gave feedback.

Here's a Summary of the Feedback on the Draft 2020/21 Annual Plan and Better Future Survey.

The activities proposed are largely unchanged from those agreed when the Long-Term Plan 2018-2028 was consulted on in 2018.

Better future

Our new Council has made climate change a top priority, as well as freshwater and biodiversity.

We are also investing in sustainable public transport services. We continue to support the activities the community has asked for and to find out your priorities for a better future.

Council strike rates

Council will increase its total rates revenue by 4% in the 2020/21 financial year.

This is 5.8% less than originally proposed when the draft plan was put out for community feedback. Savings were made by using cash reserves and reducing reserve cash build-up for flood protection and general activities. Lower inflation estimates post-COVID also reduce rates.

Reducing cash reserves may mean borrowing to cover the costs of unforeseen events, like floods.

Breaking down the 4%

The 4% refers to the increase in the total amount received from rates from 2019/20 which includes:

  • 2.3% for inflation
  • 0.8% for public transport service improvements

and provision for spending on priority work programmes for:

  • 0.5% coastal environment plan
  • 0.15% climate engagement
  • 0.25% tree planting and regeneration initiative.

How will this affect me?

Individual ratepayers pay different rates depending on the size and location of their property. Check out our Sample Property Rates Table.


Survey feedback is now closed.

  • Freshwater Management

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    Work in this portfolio covers monitoring of our freshwater resource for quality and quantity and implementing the rules (through the Resource Management Act framework) that are in place to maintain or improve these measures.

    A precious resource
    Our freshwater resource includes the region's surface water and groundwater resources (i.e. rivers, streams and other waterways, as well as aquifers).

    Our activities include the work in the local ‘zones’ to develop and implement rules and practical tools to address quality and quantity issues eg potential pollution from farm activities through farmers having the best practices on-farm, and urban campaigns around what is washed into the stormwater system.

    Collaboration is key
    This is arguably our most complex portfolio, involving the Papatipu Rūnanga across the region and many external agencies from industry bodies to scientific institutes, as well as considerable community input.

  • Climate Change, Hazards, Risk and Resilience

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    Climate change is a top priority in the draft 2020/21 Annual Plan.

    We are raising the visibility of our climate change work and getting information to the community. Our new Climate Change Integration programme brings together work across the whole organisation.

    Flood protection

    The most significant expenditure in this portfolio is the flood protection infrastructure that is built and maintained to protect lives and livelihoods. Much of this infrastructure is located in regional parks and the work to make those parks great recreational spaces also falls into this portfolio.

    Risk and resilience

    We also support:
    • Work of the Harbourmaster’s Office for our two major regional ports (Lyttelton and Timaru) and recreational waterways
    • Contaminated land investigations and actions
    • Emergency management and responses to such things as oil spills, earthquakes and other civil defence emergencies.
    • Natural hazard modelling and geological and risk investigations.



  • Biodiversity and Biosecurity

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    In this portfolio collaboration is key. We work closely with our partners and communities to protect and restore Canterbury’s indigenous biodiversity.

    This includes a focus of increased action on the ground and working with landowners to provide information and incentives to invest in maintaining biodiversity.

    Protecting braided rivers and wetlands

    The task ahead is huge, and it cannot be done unless we work together. Under this portfolio we are developing a new approach to braided river management and continuing to support private landowners to recognise wetlands as farm assets.

    Managing weeds and pests

    Weeds and pests, such as wilding pines and wallabies, continue to be a challenge and control work
    to protect native species and production values, from new and existing pests, is a large part of the expenditure.

  • Public Transport

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    Public transport

    Public transport is one of our largest portfolios. It is funded by a combination of rates, user-pays and grants from the New Zealand Transport Agency.

    Expenditure on public transport in the draft 2020/21Annual Plan is higher than predicted in the Long-Term Plan due to:
    • revision of inflation assumptions
    • increase in bus service capacity and frequency
    • retendering of bus contracts
    • changes to the Employment Relations Act
    • new direct bus services from Rangiora and Kaiapoi to the central city.

    The network of buses, ferry and total mobility services is driven by the Canterbury Regional Public Transport Plan. In commenting on this transport plan, the community said they wanted to reduce emissions and improve public transport services.