Queenstown Lakes ratepayers have had their say on next year's spending and now it is time for the council to crunch the numbers.
The annual plan submissions period closed on Monday. By yesterday, 380 submissions had been received, QLDC communications officer Jo Blick said.
She expected additional submissions to be dropped in at the council office in Wanaka or received by post this week.
Last year, about 270 submissions were received.
This year's submissions included 80 lodged on the council website. This was the first time the online submissions facility had been offered.
"We had a very good response ... and we're pleased with the numbers of submissions received online," Ms Blick said.
Public hearings will be held early next month for residents wishing to talk in support of their submissions. The Queenstown hearing will be held in the council chambers on June 1 and the Wanaka hearing in the Wanaka council office on June 2, at times to be announced.
When the draft annual plan was released for public comment last month, council chief executive Debra Lawson signalled a 2.74% average rates rise for the district.
Rates increases are expected to come mainly in roading and general rates.
The council had initially planned to cut rates by 0.88% but decided to budget for a rates increase to reduce debt by $1.9 million.
The desire to reduce a forecast $413 million debt by 2019 has resulted in the deferral of several "wish list" items and the Wanaka Skate Park Club is asking for its $185,000 grant to be brought forward.
The $500,000 extension project was first mooted more than six years ago but the QLDC has proposed deferring its grant until 2013-14.
Club spokesman Eddie Spearing said on Monday the club had about $12,000 in its bank account, and a promise from US-based benefactor Dick Schulze to match fundraising dollar-for-dollar. Last weekend the club received $1250 from Radio Wanaka's Home and Lifestyle Show.
Mr Spearing said it was hard to apply for other funds without QLDC support and he was concerned that by 2013-14 a new council would be in charge and could change its mind.
"But all we can do is ask and the politicians can decide." Deputy mayor and Wanaka Community Board chairman Lyal Cocks said bringing forward deferred items had to be justified.
"All I know is the mood at the moment is to tighten the belts and keep rate increases at the level set in the draft [annual plan]."
Other annual plan issues include. -
• A proposed reduction in funding of the Cardrona Valley Rd and Crown Range Rd winter gritting programme and possible night-time closures, following a reduction in funding from the New Zealand Transport Agency.
• Flood protection works for the Shotover Delta (jointly with the Otago Regional Council).
• The introduction of an "ag-bag" recycling scheme for sludge from Wanaka's Project Pure waste treatment plant.
