As part of the Long Term Plan 2024–2034, to help prepare for the long-term impacts of climate change on Council-owned assets, the Council agreed to establish a Climate Resilience Fund. In place since July 2025, the Climate Resilience Fund ring-fences rates collected now to invest in future adaptation work.

  • Our proposal

    Our Draft Annual Plan proposes to continue funding the Climate Resilience Fund, including maintaining the 0.25% rates increase from July 2025. We also propose to continue applying an additional 0.25% increase each year of the Long Term Plan, as originally intended. This approach would cumulatively reach a 2.25% increase over the 10 year period and allow the Fund to build to approximately $115 million by 2034.

  • The alternative option

    Pausing the planned 0.25% rates increase for 2026/27 for the Climate Resilience Fund, and resuming contributions from 2027/28. Pausing the increase would reduce rates by 0.25% in 2026/27, which would help us to manage overall rates increases.

Climate change impacts, including higher temperatures, increased fire risk, extreme weather events, changing rainfall patterns and intensity, and sea-level rise, are increasing pressure on our infrastructure.

To improve the resilience of our roads, stormwater networks, coastal infrastructure, and community facilities, we need to invest in adaptation now, and in the future. These costs will be substantial and, without early planning, will fall disproportionately on future generations.

As part of the Long Term Plan 2024–2034, to help prepare for the long-term impacts of climate change on Council-owned assets, the Council agreed to establish a Climate Resilience Fund. In place since July 2025, the Climate Resilience Fund ring-fences rates collected now to invest in future adaptation work – for example, moving or raising roads as the impacts of sea-level rise take effect, which would reduce the financial impacts on future generations.

Pausing the planned increase would leave the Fund approximately $22.9 million smaller by 2034. It could also reduce early momentum, shift more of the cost onto future ratepayers, and make it more difficult to restart or grow the Fund later – particularly if additional spending constraints, such as a potential rates cap, are introduced.

Without continued investment in climate resilience, future generations will face higher and more disproportionate costs as the effects of climate change accelerate over time.

We want to hear what you think

Do you have any feedback on the option of pausing increasing rates for the Climate Resilience Fund next year?