2025/2026 Annual Plan

Decisions Update - Annual Plan 2025/26

Council received 495 submissions to our 2025/26 Annual Plan Consultation, and Councillors and Staff spoke to many more people out at about at community events that happened between 13 March and 13 April. Hearings were held on 29 and 30 April, and Councillors deliberated on 14 May, making a number of decisions that resulted in an average rate increase of 7.11%. This increase will be made up of a combined increase of water related rates, where the average increase will be 14.04% and the non-water related rates, which will on average increase by 3.46%. 

Through the process, we heard a range of feedback about what was important, including that our community wants us to balance expenditure across our services in a meaningful way to keep rate increases as low as possible. Councillors acknowledged from the outset that some of the decisions to be made were been driven by central government, and were keen to hear from the community how we could work within those restraints. 

Key decisions made around the council table included, amending the proposed bus fares, not proceeding with the proposed Urban Play program at this time, not proceeding with the proposed cuts to Great South and Stadium Southland, as well as reducing the Built Heritage Fund, and reducing the Community Wellbeing Fund, but by a smaller amount than that proposed. Regarding whether or not to close Wachner Place Toilets, councillors have agreed to do so on the proviso an alternative showering facility option is found. 

Water service delivery was deliberated on during the Infrastructure and Projects meeting on 14 May, and the decision was made to continue with the Council operated enhanced service, which was Council’s preferred option. 

Regarding the proposed change to stormwater in the rating policy, the Finance and Policy committee will discuss this matter in June ahead of the Annual Plan being adopted. 

Council agreed to adopt the Play Strategy, and the Regional Public Transport Strategy was adopted with the new fare structure to be included.

Thank you to everyone who submitted. The full decision report can be found here.

Help us make our big decisions for the year ahead

This year Council has been focused on working to keep rates low as well as working on the future for three waters service delivery. This is your opportunity to share your views on a range of topics to help our decision making.

The Local Water Done Well Reform requires us to change the way we deliver and charge for water. Part of preparing for this change means that we need to “ringfence” all costs to provide three waters and charge those through the appropriate rates. This means that in 2025/2026, those rates will rise faster than those of other non-water services. The average proposed three waters rates increase for 2025/2026 will be 20.46%, which is about $220 a year or $4.23 a week and the non-waters rates increase will be 3.67%, which is about $73 a year or $1.40 a week.

In our Consultation Document you will also find three options for our water service delivery method.

Every year we review our Fees and Charges Schedule. We aim to ensure that we have the right balance for all our services between user pays and rates funding. There are a number of proposed changes this year, including bus fares. The government is asking all Councils to charge more in order to reduce the amount of funding for buses which comes from Central Government and proposed rates. What do you think of our proposed fees for next year? You can also share your views now on the future of public transport through the proposed Southland Regional Public Transport Plan.

We are also proposing changes to our stormwater rating approach based on the latest LiDAR modelling. Please see Maps and the Draft Rating Policy to see if your property is affected by the proposal.

We have looked at a range of other ways to save money, which are included in the consultation document. One cost-saving measure we especially want your feedback on is our proposal to close Wachner Place Toilets. We believe there are some great alternative toilet facilities in our CBD - are the toilets in Wachner place still needed?

We put some money aside for urban play in the Long-term plan, and we now have options for your feedback. Should we invest in the city centre, spread the investment more widely around the city, or is it no longer the right time for this project? You can also let us know now what you think of our Draft Play Strategy

Do you want to know how we came to our Annual Plan decisions? See the links to our livestreams where we discussed our options around the Council Table.

Have a question about one of our topics? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions, if there’s something we have not answered for you, send it through to policy@icc.govt.nz.

Come and chat with your Councillors and Mana Whenua Representatives. We’ll be out and about in Invercargill and Bluff over the next month and look forward to seeing you at the Council hearings, which are planned for after the Easter break.

Submissions will close at 5 pm on 13 April. Complete the submission form below, let us know your thoughts in person at an event, via post or drop a submission form into one of our boxes to let us know your preferred options.

Invercargill Councillors