14 April 2022
Barry Godfrey
[FYI request #18928 email]
Tēnā koe Barry
Request for Information – Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act
(LGOIMA) 1987
We refer to your official information request dated 19 March 2022 for the following information:
•
What was the net surplus earned by Council from the operation of the Silverstream
landfill in each year 2016 to 2021 (year ended 30 June)?
•
What is the projected surplus for the year ended 30 June 2022?
•
How much extra revenue is expected to be raised in the year to 30 June 2023 as a
result of the new pricing structure advertised for 1 April 2022?
•
On what authority can Council increase or change landfill changes outside the annual
plan process, ie on 1 April 2022 rather than 1 July 2022?
The information you have requested is provided below.
What was the net surplus earned by Council from the operation of the Silverstream
landfill in each year 2016 to 2021 (year ended 30 June)?
The following table shows the total revenue and total expenses that make up each historic net
surplus figure.
$000
2015/2016
2016/2017
2017/2018
2018/2019
2019/2020
2020/2021
Revenue
11,909 12,972 12,408 14,702 14,472 17,967
Expenses
5,227
6,294
6,110
7,538
9,235 10,858
Net
Surplus
6,682
6,678
6,298
7,164
5,237
7,109
What is the projected surplus for the year ended 30 June 2022?
The following table shows the year end forecast revenue and expenses that make up the
year-end forecast net surplus figure.
2021/2022
$000
Year-End Forecast as at 28 Feb
Revenue
20,924
Expenses
12,308
Net Surplus
8,616
How much extra revenue is expected to be raised in the year to 30 June 2023 as a result
of the new pricing structure advertised for 1 April 2022?
The long-term plan (LTP) budgets for Silverstream landfill for 2021/22 included the change to
weight-based charges for some vehicle types.
While it is likely that some users of light vehicles with large trailers are currently paying less
than they otherwise would if weight-based charges were in place, the exact impact on revenue
is unknown. This is because those vehicles did not have to be weighed in the past.
As the Council does not hold this information, your request for it is refused under section 17(g)
of the LGOIMA, on the grounds that the information requested is not held by the local
authority and we have no reason to believe it is held by another agency.
On what authority can Council increase or change landfill changes outside the annual
plan process, ie on 1 April 2022 rather than 1 July 2022?
The change to weight-based charges for some vehicle types, for utility vehicles and those with
trailers, is in line with our LTP (see the attached extract from page 186). Where those
vehicles have more than 300kg of waste, they will be charged at the rate of $140/tonne.
At the time the LTP was finalised, it was anticipated that this change would be in place soon
after 1 July 2021, but there have been delays in implementing this as it required more
significant changes to the software, weighbridge and kiosk set up at the entrance to
Silverstream landfill.
Note that the charges for cars and station wagons (without trailers) will remain at $15 and $25
for green waste and rubbish, respectively, until 30 June 2022, as the current LTP does not
allow for any weighing of these vehicles. However, Council is proposing to move fully to
weight-based charges from 1 July 2022 and a relatively low minimum charge. Please refer to
the draft annual plan for 2022/23.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this response.
Information about how to make a complaint is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or
freephone 0800 802 602.
Please note that this letter may be published on the Council’s website.
Nāku noa, nā
Susan Sales
Senior Advisor, Official Information and Privacy
Encl
Long-term Plan, page 186
RELEASED UNDER THE OFFICIAL INFORMATION ACT
LONG -TERM PLAN, PAGE 186
