Wairarapa and Lower Hutt ratepayers won't have to pay more for flood protection

Tuesday, 29 May 2018

Wairarapa and Lower Hutt ratepayerswon't be asked to stump up more for flood protection work across the Wellington region.

Greater Wellington Regional Council had proposed residents in flood-prone areas pay a greater share of the cost of flood protection, with less-affected areas paying less.

The council spends about 80 per cent of its flood protection budget in Lower Hutt, Wairarapa and the Kāpiti Coast, yet the cost is split almost 50-50 between general and targeted rates.

That led to the council proposing to lift the targeted rate to 70 per cent, meaning a greater share of the cost for Lower Hutt and Wairarapa, and a significant cut for those in Wellington city.

**READ MORE:

* [Ratepayers asked to pay more

*](https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/102244464/ratepayers-in-lower-hutt-and-wairarapa-asked-to-pay-more-for-flood-protection) Capital stopbanks in poor condition

* Frequent floods damage defences

* Heavy rain causes surface flooding**

That would have meant an extra $77 a year in rates for South Wairarapa residential homeowners, and a further $58 a year for Masterton residential homeowners.

Lower Hutt ratepayers would have been stung with an extra $27 a year.

At the other end of the scale, Wellington's share of the cost would have dropped from 32 per cent to 15 per cent.

But after public consultation on the council's 10-Year Plan, which included submissions from the regions' mayors on the impact it would have on ratepayers, a decision to retain the status quo was made.

The council estimates it will spend more than $200m on flood protection work over the next 10 years. Its programme includes constructing stop-banks on main rivers and barrage gates at Lake Wairarapa.

Regional council chairman Chris Laidlaw said it was clear what the public wanted, but did not rule out a fairer cost share arrangement in the future.

WHO GETS MOST FLOOD PROTECTION FUNDING?

Lower Hutt: 50 per cent of total funding

Kāpiti Coast: 16 per cent

South Wairarapa: 14 per cent

Upper Hutt: 9 per cent

Masterton: 6 per cent

Carterton: 4 per cent

Wellington: 1 per cent

Porirua: 0 per cent

WHO PAYS FOR IT?

Lower Hutt: 35 per cent (2018-19 estimate)

Wellington: 32 per cent

Kāpiti Coast: 14 per cent

Upper Hutt: 8 per cent

Porirua: 5 per cent

Masterton: 3 per cent

South Wairarapa: 2 per cent

Carterton: 1 per cent