Upper Hutt City Council

Your Council

Last year we launched the Long Term Council Community Plan (LTCCP).  This is our long term vision for our city.  We also developed a comprehensive work programme to realise this vision over the next ten years.

This year’s Annual Plan 2007/08 sees us presenting year 2 of that long term plan.  It is a continuation of the clear directions that were given to Council by the community.  Under the LTCCP we now have a process where planning takes place for any of the major projects and major decisions over that ten year period.  Yet, we still require your ongoing support and input.

You will see again in the Annual Plan that we, as a city, are continuing to do the basics well.  That is keeping the city’s roads, water and wastewater services working well and the street light upgrades continuing.  We are advocating for the improvement to the strategic transport network through participation in the Regional Land Transport Committee and the draft Regional Passenger Transport Plan.  These strategies will have a big effect on the growth of Upper Hutt.

There are some variations from the LTCCP, which include the Wellington Regional Strategy and the rating levy that Greater Wellington Regional Council will place on Upper Hutt ratepayers of about $321,000 a year.  However, Upper Hutt City Council has reduced our spend on economic development by $106,200, as our former annual payment to Positively Wellington Business will no longer be incurred.

We are also rolling out the Upper Hutt Active Recreation Project (Activation).  This aims to increase participation in physical activity in the community by supporting the development and capability of clubs, groups and other organisations that are involved in sport, recreation and leisure.  Additional funding allocated from Council aims to strengthen external support of the project, of which over 75% of the cost is being supported from grants, contracts and outside partners.

We will continue to improve the city centre and the economy and will continue to fund the Main Street Programme and the Urban Growth Strategy.  We hope to see the full tenure, within the coming year, of the Trentham City Shopping Centre and of course the opening of the multiple cinema complex in Queen Street.

This is a time when Upper Hutt has growth with the redevelopment of the city centre, the industrial areas that are being developed in Alexander Road and of course the large amount of residential growth. 

It is important that we continue to plan and develop this city in a sustainable manner.

Wayne Guppy

Mayor