Federated Farmers Submission for Whanganui District Council Long Term Plan

We support Council’s preferred option of a moderate targeted rate on exotic forestry (to raise $135,000 per annum), recognising that this is a compromise that sees some 60% of the costs attributable to forestry lying with these properties, with the balance funded by other ratepayers through the Roads and Footpaths Rate. We agree with Council’s rationale that while lower rating may have been appropriate during the growing phase of forestry plantations, with harvest approaching, the costs associated with repaving roads should lie with those making repairs necessary and not with other ratepayers. We also agree that the lower capital values per hectare for forestry have effectively skewed rating so that these properties contribute less than other rural properties of similar size.

Please see the full submission for more ifnormation