Draft Annual Plan 2025-26 Consultation

Our draft Annual Plan for the 2025-26 Financial Year outlines the cost of the activities we undertake, and the projects we plan to do and therefore the financial direction for the Waitomo District Council.
We are seeking your feedback on three proposals within our Draft Annual Plan 2025-26.

The first relates to the Waitomo District Landfill. As volumes of waste decrease due to reduced commercial volumes, and as operating costs increase, the viability of this landfill is becoming questionable.
The second relates to a seawall built by Council in Mōkau in 2015. This seawall is failing, and either needs to be removed or re-built. The cost of either option needs to be paid for out of rates, and so whether such costs should be covered by Mōkau, districtwide ratepayers, or a mix of both is a question we’re seeking feedback on.

The third relates to whether we should begin to remove the District Wide Benefit Rates for water and wastewater whereby all properties in the district, whether connected or not to a public water or wastewater scheme, are rated equally to cover 10% of the costs of water and wastewater in urban areas.

We are also seeking feedback on our Rates Remission Policy and Revenue and Financing Policy.

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Proposed Fees and Charges 2025-26

We are also seeking feedback on our proposed Fees and Charges schedule for 2025-26. As part of the annual planning process, fees and charges are reviewed to ensure the costs of providing these Council services are recovered by those who use them.

Due to the increased operating costs most fees and charges are being increased by 3%. We need to ensure costs are recovered so that Council services are not subsidised further by rates.

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Draft Alcohol Fees Bylaw 2025

Waitomo District Council is seeking feedback on the development of the Draft Alcohol Fees Bylaw 2025.

Council is proposing the new Bylaw to set fees and charges for alcohol licences in Waitomo District. Introducing this Bylaw would allow Council to set the amount it charges to alcohol licence holders (e.g. bars, alcohol stores and supermarkets), to help cover costs relating to alcohol licensing.

Council is proposing to increase alcohol licensing charges by 35% in July 2025, followed by a further 35% in July 2026 to bring the total cost recovery closer to 100%.

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Consultations started on Friday 28 March 2025 and closes at 5pm Wednesday 30 April 2025.