Subdivisions prompt call for change
The Southland District Council is reviewing its roading contributions after an upsurge in the number of potential subdivisions in the area.
At its policy review committee meeting yesterday, the committee agreed to review its roading contributions as part of council's updating of roading policies and bylaws by July 1, 2008, as required under the Local Government Act 2002.Council roading manager Michael Voss told the committee that council had recently received a large number of subdivision applications for development along Kakapo Rd and its tributary roads in the Te Anau basin, with at least 70 sections making up the three main proposed subdivisions.
"This road is changing from a simple country, partially-sealed road to one dealing with a lot of traffic."
Mr Voss said Kakapo Rd was significantly underwidth and in need of remedial works over its 13.5km length.
He said the council needed to consider what contributions were payable by whom and when, and add into the mix the potential for further subdivisions.
Currently the contributions from the developer are calculated as part of the conditions of consent at the time of application and remain in effect for the 10-year period post approval.
Where the upgrading works fail to be implemented within the 10-year period then the roading contributions were repaid to the developer.
However, a number of issues arising from this methodology" has the potential to expose council to significant financial risk".
Mr Voss said there were several options the council could look at including, introducing a development impact fee structure to capture incremental development, or to consider differential rating to capture development costs.
Cr Brian Dillon said a combination of a development impact fee and differential rating could work.
A full report on the roading contributions policy would be put forward to the council before the end of the year.