Report from Council

Welcome to the 2006 Annual Report. This document outlines the Hutt City Council?s activities over the past twelve months.

It?s been a year of significant progress for the council. We fulfilled our promise to ratepayers to hold rate increases to below the rate of inflation, and this will continue in 2007 and every year after that to 2016. This is and will result in a reduction in rates, in real terms.

We remain committed to reducing the level of long-term debt so that we may free up funds otherwise used to pay interest on debt.

Instead we have invested that money to develop the city?s infrastructure and almost doubled the amount of capital expenditure over the past twelve months, from $22 million in 2005 to $38 million in 2006.

Most of this has been for flood protection. The devastating floods of 2004 and 2005 cruelly exposed the inadequacy of some of the city?s stormwater system. Stage One of work on Wainuiomata?s Black Creek is almost complete, Stage Two is about to begin, and we have decided to bring forward Stage Three, from 2015/16 to 2010/11. Construction of the pumping station where the Opahu Stream joins the Hutt River is also well underway.

We continue to work collaboratively with the Greater Wellington Regional Council to find solutions for cleaning up pollution and minimising the flood risk on the Waiwhetu and Awamutu streams.

Work continues on the Silverstream landfill, which, once completed, will be a world-class, environmentally responsible, sustainable landfill facility that will last for more than 50 years.

Hutt City continues to enjoy a strong economic surge. This year saw Westfield Queensgate completed except for the 1400-seat Village Cinema, which is due to open soon. Long-standing local business Titan opened a new $4 million state-of-the-art head office in Seaview, while Noel Leeming opened new premises in the CBD.

Exciting developments completed or still under construction include the Pak N Save supermarket in Brunswick Street, the Harvey Norman store at the corner of Rutherford Street and Melling Bridge and the soon to open Les Mills gymnasium at the former Mitre Ten site.

As Mayor it?s heartening to see businesses like these investing in Hutt City because it reflects confidence in our future. They contribute more jobs, growth and prosperity for the city, and for that I sincerely thank them.

The CBD has begun transformation with the upgrade of Margaret Street, which improves pedestrian access between Westfield Queensgate and retail shops on High Street. Council has committed more funding for further enhancement of the CBD as part of the CBD Masterplan project. It is important to continue the integration of Queensgate and the rest of the CBD.

Hutt City was the talk of the region following the launch of new tongue in cheek billboards around Wellington City designed to attract visitors and raise the profile of the city. The campaign helped reshape the image and perceptions of Hutt City by using good humour, self confidence and understatement.

Council, in partnership with Work and Income, launched a major new initiative into help people, especially school leavers, into skilled jobs. TradeStart began in December 2005. It provides information about trades and training opportunities. The Youth Transition Service project, again in partnership with Work and Income, is another example of Council helping our young people reach their potential.

Our vision is to make Hutt City a family friendly city ? and we are achieving that. We are home to many high quality schools and tertiary institutions and blessed with recreational facilities the envy of most other cities. With crime on the way down, and job opportunities on the rise, we are an attractive place for families wanting a fresh start.

I want to thank our councillors and council officers for their hard work, enthusiasm and commitment over the past twelve months. Together we are making Hutt City an even better place to live, work and play.

David Ogden
MAYOR
On behalf of Council

Report_from_Council.pdf (47 Kb)