A major upgrade to the Waiwhakaiho River flood defences, a sell-out crowd at Yarrow Stadium and adopting the 2024/34 Long-Term Plan were among the main success stories for Taranaki Regional Council in the last financial year.
Success stories for the Council in the last financial year included the upgrade to the Waiwhakaiho flood defences, selling out Yarrow Stadium, adopting the 2024/34 Long-Term Plan and the freshwater community conversation including 16 drop-in sessions.
The 2023/24 Annual Report, which was adopted at today’s Ordinary Meeting, also highlights how the Council has responded to changes and challenges and continued with its mission to work with Taranaki communities and take the region forward.
“The last year has been a key period in getting our plans and strategies into place across many of our work streams and we think this mahi puts the Council in a better place to care for our place and support livelihoods,” says Chair Charlotte Littlewood.
“At the same time that we’ve been delivering top-notch services to the community, we’ve had to operate in tough economic conditions, respond to a shifting policy landscape and factor in adapting to climate change.
“That we’ve accomplished so much while responding to many challenges demonstrates that putting the resources in place to deliver results is working, especially in key work programmes like freshwater management, public transport and protecting the environment.”
The Council recorded an operating deficit of $0.74m, significantly better than the budgeted deficit of $2.9m. This positive variance arose from revaluation gains on its flood control schemes. The rest of its income and expenditure was within $683,000 of budget.
Prudent use of the Dividend Equalisation Reserve, grown through the Council's long-standing ownership of Port Taranaki Ltd, enabled the Council to keep the budget deficit at a lower level while funding projects such as the $430,000 upgrade to flood protection near The Valley shopping centre.
The 2023/2024 financial year saw a number of major public transport achievements including an 11.2% rise in passenger numbers on buses and enhancements to services while the Council’s three regional gardens – Pukeiti, Hollard Gardens and Tūpare – were visited by more than 128,000 people with around 7,250 people enjoying events organised by the gardens team.
The project to redevelop Yarrow Stadium remains on budget and on time and the last year saw a number of milestones reached in the construction of the East Stand. The venue saw a sell-out crowd enjoy the Taranaki Bulls win the Bunnings NPC championship in September.
Key policies and strategies to be developed or adopted included the Regional Coastal Plan, a new Regional Land Transport Plan, the 2024/34 Long-Term plan and work ramped up on talking to the community about freshwater ahead of creating a new Land and Freshwater Plan.
“More than ever before, we’ve been listening to our community and what their aspirations and hopes for our amazing region are and that is directly shaping what we’re doing,” added Mrs Littlewood.
“It was fantastic to receive so many responses to our community conversations and see so many people attend the freshwater drop-in events, showing that people are engaged and aware of our mahi and what we’re working to achieve.”
A summary of the Annual Report will be published in the Taranaki Daily News and community newspapers in October, and the full document will be available on the Council website.