The Sustainable Business Network has made a submission. We are sharing it below to provide ideas for others wishing to have their say.
Submissions close at 11pm on Tuesday 28 March. It’s easy to provide feedback. You can simply tick a box to agree or disagree with the proposals, with the option to add more detail if you wish.
Make your submission here.
SBN’s submission on Auckland Council’s proposed Annual Budget 2023/24:
Question 1 – Operating spending reductions
Summary of Council proposal:
Council proposes to save $125 million by: maintaining the currently reduced public transport services; reducing funding to Tātaki Auckland Unlimited; reducing services such as community and education programmes, art and culture, economic development, social services activities such as homelessness funding, and funding for youth centres; reducing local board activities; and no longer providing early childhood education services.
Our response (choice from tick box options):
‘Do not proceed with any reductions and instead further increase rates and/or debt.’
Why we think this:
Public transport services are an efficient way of tackling climate change. They enable those without cars to get around safely and affordably. Reducing the frequency and increasing the cost of public transport makes it harder to tackle pollution and climate change, and places the burden on people who can least afford it.
We have seen the impact of reduced train and bus services recently, with massive cost to the public in terms of extra time getting around the city and increased congestion as people are forced to drive. This is an increase in cost to all rate payers. Further to this, the harder it is to get into the city centre, the less people will make the journey, which will impact on the vitality of our city and the businesses trying to operate there. Investing in alternative modes of transport such as walking, cycling and public transport will solve these issues.
Adopting a more sustainable approach to transport in Auckland would also bring economic benefits. The Sustainable Business Network commissioned a study by Sapere Research Group in 2018 which showed Auckland could be $8.8 billion better off by 2030 if it installed the circular economy, with much lower carbon emissions. Transport was one of the sectors studied. The research showed that encouraging ride sharing, refurbishing commercial vehicles and reducing congestion could yield $1.8 million for Auckland by 2030.
We recommend that Council picks up the pace of decarbonising transport and rethinks its assets to maximise their use. For example, looking at rental options for public assets like its own vehicle fleet to reduce the number and convert to electric. Council should work in partnership with suppliers to innovate and increase efficiency.
Question 3 - Managing rates and debt
Summary of Council proposal:
Council proposes a rates increase for the average value residential property of around 4.66% or $154 a year (around $3 a week) and to increase use of debt by up to $75 million.
There would be an average increase of 7% across all existing properties, including non-residential.
The Natural Environment Targeted Rate and Water Quality Targeted Rate would be reduced by around two thirds.
Our response (choice from tick box options):
‘Other’
Why we think this:
Aucklanders have made it clear they want to see investment in both a higher rates increase and make greater use of debt. Auckland Council should follow the lead of Wellington City Council, which has announced a 12.3-12.8% increase in rates. This ensures it can continue the wise work on climate action.
If we invest in public transport and active modes (such as walking and cycling), we will reduce the escalating costs of fuel on ratepayers. This is inflation-busting action. Equally, we encourage the Council to work with its suppliers to innovate around delivery of low carbon infrastructure to ensure we are getting the most cost-effective and low carbon solutions.
Reducing the Water Quality and Natural Environment Targeted Rates by two-thirds is irresponsible, particularly so soon after the substantial damage to land and waterways caused by recent flooding.
Question 4 – Storm response
Summary of Council proposal:
As a result of the recent storm events, we need changes to investment in land, infrastructure and buildings. Council is proposing to increase operating budgets by around $20 million each year to improve its ability to prepare for and respond to future storms. This would likely require rates to increase by an additional 1%.
Our response (choice from tick box options):
‘Proceed with the proposal to increase our operating budget by around $20 million each year.’
Why we think this:
Auckland Council needs to invest in the emergency preparedness of its people. The increase in extreme weather events should motivate us to make changes that allow our rural and urban communities to be prepared and adaptive to future environmental degradation. We need a dual strategy focused on both mitigation and adaptation.
Scientists globally have been warning of events like these for many years. The consensus is clear that communities must be prepared. Our own Climate Change Commission continues to signal the importance of responding with infrastructure spend and via partnerships. Councils will need to lead on this and be prepared to work in partnership with suppliers to get the right solutions and investments to create resilient, low carbon infrastructure. This is futureproofing cities and communities. It is a responsibility of Council, in partnership with the private sector.
Further, we would encourage Council to adopt the practice of creating ‘sponge’ infrastructure, integrating nature to play a role in reducing the peak droughts and flood events.
Suppliers of infrastructure have innovative solutions which will realise both carbon and water benefits. Council should work with them to understand what is possible.
Question 6 – Changes to other rates, fees and charges
Summary of Council proposal:
Council is proposing changes to targeted rates. This includes proposed changes in waste management: a 10.6% base rate increase, an option for 80L bin in parts of Auckland, and an increase to the 240L refuse bin price (from $254.15 to $287.41). It is also proposing to introduce a one-off fee of $40 for residents wishing to change their bin size; and extending the food scraps targeted rated to new areas that will receive the service this year.
Council is also proposing to change which bus services are funded by the Climate Action Targeted Rate.
Our response (choice from tick box options):
‘Support changes to waste charging.’
‘Do not support Climate Action Targeted Rate changes.’
Why we think this:
The Climate Action Targeted Rate was established last year with overwhelming public support. We do not agree with using this fund to reduce costs to Auckland Transport, rather than using it to improve and increase public transport services. We support more investment in public transport, walking and cycling.
We support extension of the food waste collection service across Auckland.
Question 7 – What else is important to you?
The Sustainable Business Network (SBN) has been calling for action on sustainability since its inception in 2002. We are now in a climate emergency, evidenced by the damage to land, waterways, property, infrastructure and people across Tāmaki Makaurau this year.
There has never been a more important time to prioritise funding to future-proof our city and build resilience for our land and people. That means prioritising low carbon solutions that put people first. Many low carbon solutions bring economic benefits and help tackle inflation as well as addressing climate change.
We encourage Council to form stronger partnerships with the business community, who are essential investors in the city’s infrastructure. Partnerships are essential for success, particularly in times of emergency.
Auckland Council has a strong AA credit rating. This should give it the confidence to invest in making Tāmaki Makaurau a strong, resilient city we can all be proud of.
In particular, SBN calls upon Council to nurture our natural systems and support people to live in harmony as part of te taiao. It is especially important to prioritise urban nature regeneration as it has a multitude of benefits: improving the health of waterways, storing carbon, improving health and wellbeing, creating jobs and bringing communities together.
Ka ora te whenua, ka ora te wai, ka ora te tangata.
In healing the whenua and wai, we heal our people.
The proposed budget does not support the revitalisation of ecosystems and allow Papatūānuku and her people to be well. It neglects our intergenerational commitment to care for the mana and mauri of people, place and nature. It ignores the barriers preventing our communities to shift to ways of living that are self-sustaining and prosperous. We need to be building the skills, capacity, careers and connections required for oranga to flourish.
A city without its rooting in relationships of reciprocal care and the restorative cycle of aroha has no legs to stand on. We cannot truly find peace and feel at home in a city that neglects our intergenerational responsibilities to care for mauri. We need to consider the conscious choices necessary for leaving a legacy we can be proud of.
The Sustainable Business Network (SBN) is Aotearoa New Zealand’s oldest and largest network for sustainable business. We currently work with around 600 organisations nationwide. This submission represents the views of SBN as an organisation. It is not necessarily those of all the organisations and individuals in its network.