We’re putting together our Annual Plan for 2026/27 and want to let you know what we've got planned.

Our Plan in Action - Information Document lets you know about the major projects, costs, funding, financials and proposed rates for the year.

Council adopted the 2024–2034 Long Term Plan (LTP) in 2024 after extensive work by staff and elected members and following thorough consultation with our communities and stakeholders.

In developing the LTP and its financial strategy, we were required to make difficult decisions, balancing the need to support growth in our district with the community’s ability to fund it, while also managing national pressures such as inflation, the cost of living, housing affordability, and increasing regulatory requirements from central government.

Throughout consultation, our community consistently told us they wanted council to focus on essentials, reduce costs where possible, and defer or delay non-urgent spending.

We have listened.

As we prepare the 2026/27 Annual Plan—Year Three of the LTP—significant progress has already been made on the commitments we set.

We have:

• Completed key roading projects such as Snells Road
• Strengthened network resilience
• Advanced improvements to the wastewater network
• Upgraded our resource recovery centres to support safer, more efficient, and sustainable operations.
• Delivered improvements to public amenities, including upgraded CBD toilets and new lighting at Memorial Park.
• We have navigated a wide range of national reforms that will reshape how councils operate, while maintaining a strong focus on serving our community.

This Annual Plan represents a continuation of the LTP rather than a shift in direction. We remain committed to affordability, resilience, and long-term sustainability for a growing district.

Consultation on the LTP indicated a significant rates increase for year three, over 16%. Through strengthening partnerships, savings where possible and refining assumptions the overall rates increase for year three is 8.9%.