Our ten-year plan for the Canterbury region

On 17 June 2021 Canterbury Regional Council (Environment Canterbury) adopted its Long-Term Plan for 2021-31.

During consultation, we received almost 1,300 submissions from across the region, these were made up of 1,159 individual submitters and 136 organisations or representative groups.

Choosing the right option for Canterbury

The Council’s preferred option during consultation was supported by most submitters. Referred to as Option 1, this package of work included all the must-do’s (statutorily required work), work we had already committed to, and provision to accelerate key environmental initiatives.

What we heard about the options

Regarding the question, which of the options would you like us to progress with?

• Option 1: statutory work, prior commitments and accelerating key initiatives 58%
• Options 2: statutory work and prior commitments 13%
• Other option 30%.

Submissions were generally in support of taking urgent action on environmental issues, such as freshwater quality, climate change and an enhanced public transport service.

There was general support for our five new portfolios and priorities: Water and Land, Biodiversity and Biosecurity, Climate Change and Community Resilience, Air Quality, Transport and Urban Development and Regional and Strategic Leadership.

Concerns were raised by submitters about affordability, particularly in the current economic climate, and the ability to deliver such a large amount of work in the timeframes proposed.

Affordability of the options

We asked submitters to comment on the affordability of options for their household and for the wider community.

What we heard about affordability

Is the proposed rates increase affordable for your household?

• Option 1 is affordable 46%
• Option 2 is affordable 6%
• Neither option is affordable 48%.

Is the proposed rates increase affordable for your community?

• Unaffordable for the community 46%
• Affordable for the community 28%
• Unsure about affordability for the community 26%.

Council’s decision

With support from the community, Council used Option 1 as their starting point but addressed issues of affordability by rephasing, reducing or delaying some work programmes, borrowing and using cash reserves (see article on Addressing affordability). Leading to the following impact on our total rates revenue and budget:

• 12.6% increase in total rates revenue in 2021/22 financial year (year 1 of the Long-Term Plan)
• $129M total revenue from rates
• $243.8M total expenditure overall.