Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) councillors are expected to approve rates for the district at today’s (Thursday August 31) full council meeting in Queenstown.

The average rates increase is set to be 0.3 percent higher than the 14.2 percent indicated when the Annual Plan was adopted in June. 

The figure had already increased by 0.6 percent from an initial 13.6 percent in the draft Annual Plan.

Read more: Proposed rates increase jumps again

QLDC assurance, finance and risk general manager Stewart Burns said the increase since the Annual Plan’s adoption was “largely as expected”.

Indicative rates information published in the Annual Plan are the council’s “best estimate at that time,” he said, and they are subject to change.

The impact of the additional increase will not be even across all property types and locations. 

Most owners of ‘lower value’ residential properties need to stump up between $30 and $60 extra and for ‘higher value’ properties, most owners will pay an extra $140.

This is in addition to the average 14.2 percent increase and its dollar cost already signalled.

Residents criticised the council on the proposal to increase rates by double digits (and by more than twice as much as a year earlier) during the Annual Plan hearings in May, with one resident saying it would be a “last straw” for working families struggling with a range of increasing costs.

Read more: Proposed rates increase criticised at annual plan hearings

QLDC chief executive Mike Theelen has said the rates reflected “considerable” cost increases from factors like increased interest rates and high inflation.

Elected members will be asked to approve the rates at the council meeting taking place from 1pm.

During the meeting, councillors will also have to decide whether or not to approve consultation of a speed management plan which recommends a raft of speed limit reductions around the district.

Read more: Reducing speed limits back on council agenda

PHOTO: Wānaka App