Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter
Send news

News tags

mental health  physical activity  earthquake  vacancies  families  public health  children  funding  poverty  health determinants  social  Community development  planning  employment  healthy cities  volunteers  newsletter  youth  volunteering  nutrition  employment opportunity  housing  alcohol and drugs  maori  community engagement  rebuilding  wellbeing  disabilities  Lectures  counselling  Training  earthquake recovery  sustainability  event  community gardens  Community  seminar  Awards  stress  Community Groups  mens health  research  arts  smokefree  culture  men  exercise  migrants  community event  education  environment  resilience  human rights  health  medical  business  sport  conferences  survey  mental wellbeing  Courses  obesity  elderly  support group  environmental health  healthy food  health promotion  violence  pacific health  resources  rebuild  women  race relations  meeting  gardens  workshop  services  leadership  forum  water  disabled  repair  transport  prevention  pacific  dance  fundraising  asian health  sexual health  inequality  cancer  support  disasters  development  mindfulness  dementia  presentation  collaboration  health in all policies  data analysis  recovery  smoking  law  drugs and alcohol  technology  safety  cycling  Sleep  policy  parenting  media  hearing  walking  land  neighbours  social justice  qualification  resilient cities  information  community connection  consultation  oral health  bullying  depression  youth empowerment  young people  activities  non-profit  charity  harm  NURSES  addiction  disease  Communication  alcohol  symposium  submission  anxiety  accessibility  Relationships  eating  economics  Advocacy  eLearning  falls  parking  energy  efficiency  heating  insulation  advice  Eating Disorders  abuse  waste  Matariki  webinar  diabetes  workplace  Film  Climate Change  solutions  urban  management  economy  plan  restoration  Report  Vulnerability  welfare  parks  learning  awareness  emergencies  legislation  injury prevention  reading  Meeting Room  conservation  language  refugees  recreation  built environment  data  venue  urban design  Food  older people  finances  suicide  heritage  gender  recycling  breastfeeding  public  identity  Nursing  submissions  Rainbow  biodiversity  campaign  promotion  Gut Health  diversity  therapy  older adults  sexuality  computing  pollution  School Holidays  Arts Therapy  providers  gambling  Maori health  Cervical cancer  screening  trauma  autism  Governance  treaty of waitangi  care  mentoring  pets  relaxation  Professional Development  pornography  exhibition  history  discrimination  vaping  equity  lockdown  grief  rural  hygiene  participation  tourism  summer  intervention  warning  podcast  science  petition  swimming  roadworks  traffic  wildlife  beaches  pools  immunisation  vaccination  brain  preparation  open day  market  evaluation  noise  music  property  testing  crafts  CALD  cultural diversity  camping  creativity  child health  tamariki  climate action  Pasifika  refugee  migrant  community events  road safety  library  Hornby  skills  placemaking  regenerative communities  journey  reflection  regional council  councillors  water management  emergency management  retirement  stress management  Christmas  family  festival  alcohol harm  waterways  planting  health protection  legionnaire's disease  hepatitis  heatwaves  river beds  water safety  natural resources  fishing  gardening  workshops  stormwater  biosecurity  volunteer  plant and animal pest management  politics  faith  crime  drugs  pregnancy  native birds  Waimakariri  water quality  schools  early childhood  health professionals  heart disease  kura  school  ethical issues  rangatahi  Linwood  running  donations  whanau  financial pressures  online  health professional  flooding  conflict  peace  winter  agriculture  stroke  plastic 

Investing in Selwyn’s Future: Mayor Broughton Responds to Rates Criticism

Wednesday, July 2, 2025   Posted in: Signatory Notice Board By: Administrator With tags: services, funding, planning, built environment, water, transport, waste

Selwyn District Council media release: 1st July 2025

Selwyn Mayor Sam Broughton says the Council is focused on investing in essential services to support the district’s rapid growth and is rejecting the Taxpayers’ Union's claims of poor financial management.

“Every rate increase is challenging, and I understand the pressure that puts on households,” Mayor Broughton said.

“But we’re not spending recklessly. We’re investing in what our community has told us matters: fixing roads and maintaining our water and wastewater supplies.”

Selwyn District Council’s 2025–26 Annual Plan includes a 14.2 percent average rate increase and a $145.8 million capital investment programme, more than 80 percent of which will be allocated to roads, water, and wastewater services.

"Our average rate increases over the last 10 years have been about 6%. Over the next eight years, they are planned to average less than 7%, and will reduce each year reaching 3.6% by 2034.

“The rate increases across the two previous years are catching up, because of only 1.6% rates increase during Covid, one-off infrastructure investments, and inflation.”

Selwyn’s population has doubled in the last 14 years and is the fastest-growing region in New Zealand.

“Growth brings real costs. Maintaining more than 2,500 kilometres of roads and 120 bridges, and upgrading sewer infrastructure is now at least 30% more expensive than just a few years ago.”

Mayor Broughton says calls for capping rates ignore the reality for fast-growing areas like Selwyn.

“Capping rates might sound good in theory, but it would mean delaying important work - leading to bigger costs down the line.

“We’d just be passing the problem, and higher costs, onto our kids, and grandkids.”

The Australian experience of rate capping has led to underinvestment in essential infrastructure. Victoria and NSW have rate caps, yet have had higher rate increases than South Australia, which has no rate cap, said Mayor Broughton.

Mayor Broughton also renewed his call for the Government to return a portion of GST from new builds to local councils.

“If we received half the GST on 1,000 new homes, at an average cost of $500,000, that would be $37.5 million a year. That would help fund the infrastructure that new developments need, instead of putting pressure on existing ratepayers. Growth should help pay for growth.”

Community feedback is driving decisions

The Council received over 1,500 submissions during last year’s Long-Term Plan consultation.

“The message was clear: focus on roads, water, and waste. So that’s exactly where over 80 percent of this capital budget has gone. This year's Annual Plan continues to implement that feedback.”

He said the Council decided not to re-consult on the 2025–26 Annual Plan because the direction was already clear.

“Engaging with our community is critical, as is respecting the feedback we’ve already received. Repeating the consultation less than 12 months later would waste time and money when people have already told us to get on with it.

“We also consult across the year on various individual matters – we are committed to listening to our community.

“We encourage residents to get in touch, ask questions, and have their say, whether it’s through formal submissions, community forums, or directly with myself or councillors.”

Water services decision in line with national trends 

The Mayor also addressed the recent decision to establish a Council-Controlled Organisation (CCO) to manage Selwyn’s drinking and wastewater services, in accordance with the Government’s “Local Water Done Well” policy.

“This is about long-term affordability. While we appreciate all feedback, less than 1% of residents submitted to the consultation, which suggests the majority are comfortable with the approach,” he said.

“Sixty-nine per cent of councils across New Zealand are adopting the same CCO model - it’s about securing better borrowing capacity and delivering cost savings within a decade.

For some people, in-house delivery may feel simpler, but the analysis shows it would lead to higher costs over time.

“We’re acting now to ensure services remain reliable and affordable in the future,” says Mayor Sam Broughton.

 

Note: The last 10 years of rates increases data is from 2015 to 2024. The next 8 years of rates increases is from 2026 to 2034 and is what is signaled in the Long-Term Plan 2024-2034. The rates increase for 2025 will be confirmed following the end of the financial year.