FAQs
Why are you doing a nine-year plan instead of a 10-year plan?
Every three years councils must adopt a Long-Term Plan. In the years between we adopt Annual Plans. Last year, because of uncertainty around new government reforms, we took the option to push back the 2024/34 Long-Term Plan to 2025 to make sure we could plan with confidence. This means we our next LTP will be in two years' time, instead of the usual three-year cycle.
Why haven’t you provided the actual Long-Term Plan for consideration?
Under legislation we cannot provide you with the actual Long-Term Plan. The Long-Term Plan will be developed after we have heard from our community on what matters to them. The consultation for the Long-Term Plan is designed to inform our community on what significant decisions SWDC are considering and our preferred options (which are the budgeted options).
Can I give feedback on other matters that aren’t outlined in the consultation document?
Yes, the consultation document asks for any other feedback and has space to provide written feedback about what is important to you.
What happens to my feedback?
You feedback is given to the elected members as part of the Hearings Report. All submissions are provided for them to read and consider. Then during the deliberations, thematical analysis is undertaken to see what the common themes are from all the submissions. This information is provided in the Deliberations Report. During deliberations the Councillors may ask the CE to prepare additional information before the final decisions are made at the Long-Term Plan adoptions at the end of June 2025.
Why is the rates increase so low compared to previous years? What has been done to achieve this?
In recent years, Council made deliberate and necessary rate increases to address historic underfunding of core infrastructure, particularly in water and roading services.These increases—peaking at nearly 20% in some years—were essential to catch up on past underinvestment and build a more sustainable funding base.
Now that these critical funding levels have been reached, the projected rate increases are significantly lower than in previous years. Moving forward, rates will increase in line with the Local Government Cost Index (LGCI) plus an additional margin (ranging from 2% to 9%), ensuring that future increases remain steady and predictable. This shift demonstrates a transition from catch-up funding to long-term financial prudence, balancing affordability for ratepayers while maintaining necessary investment in infrastructure.
How can I find out if my property is inside or outside the 10km radius for Question 2?