Draft Annual Plan 2026/27

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About the Annual Plan

The Annual Plan outlines what Selwyn District Council wants to achieve in the next financial year from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027, and how that work will be funded. It is part of the Council’s planning cycle.

During the last local body elections in October 2025, the Mayor and Councillors heard from residents that they were concerned about rates affordability and asked the Council to do more to live within its means. In this Draft Annual Plan 2026/2027 consultation, the Council provides three options for a rates increase lower than the predicted 13.3% in the Long-Term Plan 2024-2034, and how these would be achieved. It also highlights consultation on the Upper Selwyn Huts.

We want to know what you think about the proposals. You can provide feedback between 16 March and 26 April 2026. After that, Councillors will hear from those wishing to speak to their submission during the hearings 11-22 May and deliberate on all feedback before finalising the Annual Plan by 30 June.

If you have any questions, come to one of the Annual Plan community events that will be held across Selwyn by your elected representatives and Council staff.

What changes are proposed? What we will deliver Upper Selwyn Huts Combined Council and Selwyn Water rates and water charges Draft Annual Plan Document Make a submission

What changes are proposed?

To achieve a lower rates increase, the Council developed a prioritisation tool to look at potential savings within the organisation as well as in the services and projects it delivers for Waikirikiri Selwyn residents. Where possible, it also wanted to ensure that a user pays policy was being properly applied for fees and charges, so that costs were not being spread across everyone's rates.

As a result of this work, the Council now has three potential weighted average rates increases for Selwyn District residents to consider. These are:

6.5%

5.4%

4.9%


The following proposed measures are estimated to save Selwyn District Council $9.2 million and are included in all three rates increase options.

1. Increase user pays charges

  • An $8 per dog increase in dog registration fees to reduce the amount that rates subsidise dog control budgets.
    Potential saving $100,000.
  • Increase in some building consent fees by approximately 25% to reduce the entire amount subsidised by ratepayers.
    Potential saving $2.5 million.
  • Change the Strategic Relationships Manager Service to a requested service, and recover approximately 75% of the cost from fees and charges. This service assists people through land development regulatory processes.
    Potential saving $300,000.
  • Increase fees for fitness classes, while keeping them cost competitive with other South Island facilities. Casual group aqua fitness class fees to increase from $10.90 to $11.70. Membership fees to rise by 7%. These classes are already user pays.
    Potential revenue increase $10,000.

For more detail, see page 30 in the Draft Annual Plan.

2. Scale back the Council’s Economic Development Programme

The Council is proposing to scale back the Economic Development Programme by 75%. The Kai Aku Rika Economic Development Strategy is Selwyn’s roadmap for ensuring future growth is focused and sustainable over the next decade. The remaining budget would contribute to work on a community-led energy hub; dark sky accreditation; supporting local township promotion; investment ready business cases which involve central government and other investors; and limited responses to emerging opportunities.
Potential saving $650,000.

Some areas that would be affected include:

  • Business Support Service would not be established, meaning businesses would not have a single point of contact to help them navigate Council processes, set up in Waikirikiri Selwyn, or connect with local support.
  • The Innovation Challenge event would not be run, removing an opportunity for local businesses, students, and experts to work together on solving real‑world issues such as infrastructure challenges.
  • The Council would not fund a physical Innovation Hub, so any start-up or innovation space would need to be delivered by private developers or investors.
  • The Strategic Events Fund would stop, so Council would not provide funding to help attract or support major events in the district.

For more detail, see page 18 in the Draft Annual Plan

3. Change the Capital Works Programme

In the 2026/27 year, the Council will continue its investment in essential infrastructure and services to support the district’s growth and enhance people’s wellbeing. It is proposing to spend about $86 million on capital projects.

This sum is lower than forecast for year three of the Long-Term Plan 2024-2034 but the change is mainly due to the removal of drinking water and wastewater projects that were transferred to Selwyn Water, along with rephasing of a number of projects, including those listed below. The change in capital project spend would be unlikely to have a significant impact on levels of service provided by the Council.
Potential saving $400,000.

Rephased projects:

  • Selwyn and Dunns Crossing Road roundabout (SNP)
  • Lincoln ‘Park N Ride’
  • Rolleston Town Centre development
  • Springs and Hamptons Road roundabout
  • Kakaha Park stormwater remediation
  • Tennyson and Moore Street roundabout
  • Moore Street extension
  • Whitecliffs Bridge replacement professional services
  • Lincoln Town Centre upgrade
  • Selwyn District Council offices - pod/meeting space extension

For more detail, see the Appendix on page 133 in the Draft Annual Plan

4. Reduce grant funding

While Selwyn District Council remains committed to supporting community initiatives that make Waikirikiri Selwyn a great place to live, work and play, a 24% reduction in the Council’s community grants budget is being proposed for the 2026/27 year to help it reduce the rates increase. Below is the list of funds that would be reduced. No funds have been disestablished.
Potential saving $263,000, applied to any or all of the following grant funds:

  • Community History Fund
  • Heritage Protection Fund
  • Natural Environment Fund
  • Meet Your Street Fund
  • Strategic Partnership Fund
  • Heritage Consents Fund
  • Individual and Teams Fund
  • Tertiary Scholarships Fund
  • Predator Free 2050 Fund
  • Mayor and Councillors Fund

For more detail, see page 29 in the Draft Annual Plan.

5. Reduce event funding

Substantial savings have been identified from stopping or reducing the amount of funding provided for Council events. The Council is specifically considering not providing the Teddy Bear’s Picnic and Music in the Park, in the next ‘Summer in Selwyn’ event season. Funding for Kite Day would also be scaled back by reducing advertising or sourcing sponsorship. ANZAC Day grants to community organisations would remain as currently budgeted.
Potential saving $107,000.

For more detail, see page 29 in the Draft Annual Plan.

6. Review District Park Project

The District Park is planned to be on Council land near the corner of Levi and Weedons Roads. As this project is still at the design phase, we are proposing to revisit its scope, size and scale to see if there are any cost efficiencies to be achieved, particularly in ongoing operating costs. Councillors also want to know whether the design is in tune with Waikirikiri Selwyn’s actual population growth rather than earlier forecasted growth, which was lower. A spatial plan will be prepared over the next year which will map out services and facilities across the district. The District Park will be included in this plan. The timing of this review would put the detailed design phase for the District Park into the 2027/2028 financial year.

For more detail, see page 29 in the Draft Annual Plan.

7. Reduce Operating Costs

Internally, the Council has identified a range of opportunities that could reduce operating costs, while continuing to deliver services that matter to the Waikirikiri Selwyn community. These focus on fiscal scrutiny on spending, removing duplication, working more effectively, and generating additional income where appropriate.

Overall, these changes might have an impact on the way we work and the resourcing requirements. Any changes to resource requirements would ideally be managed through effective workforce planning.

These initiatives include:

  • Closing Council facilities during the Christmas and New Year period and on public holidays, and going cashless in all Council facilities, excluding the Council office in Rolleston.
    Potential saving $83,000.
    For more detail, see page 30 in the Draft Annual Plan.
  • Scaling back work on the delivery of strategies in the next year, including the Piki Amokura Youth Strategy, Te Paepae Ageing Well Strategy, and Te Rautaki Tikaka Rua Bicultural Strategy.
    Potential saving $422,000.
    For more detail, see pages 19 and 20 in the Draft Annual Plan.
  • Reduction in Council-run library programmes and exhibitions, and no improvement to the Selwyn Libraries website, selwynlibraries.co.nz. This approach includes working more closely with local arts and heritage groups with a focus on local content, not rotating exhibitions as often, and increased use of material already owned by Council.
    Potential saving $200,000.
    For more detail, see page 30 in the Draft Annual Plan.
  • Reduce the Future Projects budget to assist in meeting the desired rates range. This budget is to cover potential work that may arise during the year.
    Potential saving $84,000.

Efforts required to reduce the rates rise to 6.5%

Total potential saving $9.2 million.

To reach a 6.5% rate rise, the changes outlined above would need to be implemented. However, unlike the proposal for a 5.4% rate rise (below), budgets that had not been spent in the current financial year (2025/26) would not cause a reduction in the total budgeted amount for the next financial year (2026/27).

Efforts required to reduce the rates rise to 5.4%

Total potential saving $10.1 million.

The actions required to reduce the rates rise to 5.4% are discussed above. In addition to those actions, where existing budgets have not been spent this financial year, that amount would also be removed from the relative budget in the next financial year. There would be no difference in levels of service for Waikirikiri Selwyn ratepayers between a 6.5% and 5.4% rate increase.

Efforts required to reduce the rates rise to 4.9%

Total potential saving $10.5 million.

The rates increase could be reduced to 4.9% by significantly reducing recruitment at Selwyn District Council for the next year; removing some roles from budgets; and substantially reducing the consultants’ budget across the organisation. This option may increase the risk of the Council not achieving some levels of service, capital projects, and its regulatory functions within required timeframes.

Fees and charges

Please refer to the ‘Fees and Charges’ and ‘Coming up in 2026/27’ sections on pages 95-125 of the draft Annual Plan for Selwyn District Council’s proposed fees and charges for 2026/27.

The majority of our fees and charges will only increase from 2025/26 levels by the rate of inflation (2.7%) and some will not increase at all. However, there are some fees and charges that we are proposing to increase by higher amounts to enable a reduction in the rates increase, or where fees and charges have not increased in several years. In some cases, new fees and charges are proposed to be added. Notable proposed changes and a full comparison table of fees and charges from 2025/26 to the proposed 2026/27 levels are available here.

Tell us what you think

Fill out a submission form now and tell us what you like and don't like about the proposed changes.

What we will deliver

In the coming year, we propose to continue our investment in essential infrastructure and services to support the district’s ongoing growth and enhance residents’ wellbeing. This year, we propose to commit approximately $86 million to capital projects. This is lower than the Long-Term Plan 2024-2034 year three forecast because many projects are in the design stage with budgets that need to be moved out by a year (rephasing). This will not significantly alter levels of service. A change to this year’s plan is that water and wastewater projects are now being delivered by Selwyn Water. The following is a summary of some of the scheduled projects.

Transportation

Approximately $57 million total project spend

We will continue our focus on road maintenance and building critical transport connections across our district. Major projects scheduled to be delivered in 2026/27 include the Lincoln Town Centre intersection improvements ($13.9 million), the realignment of Jones Road and Two Chain Road ($7.9 million), and creating the Walkers Road and Two Chain Road roundabout ($7.5 million). Both of the latter projects are to support the construction of the new SH1 flyover.

Projects currently at the design stages include the Lincoln Reserve extension ($2.85 million); Whitecliffs Bridge replacement ($2.5 million); Ellesmere Road seal widening ($2.2 million); Selwyn and Springston Rolleston Road roundabout ($1.2 million); the Rolleston Town Centre square and car park completion ($0.9 million).

Investment in local roads will include $8.3 million spent on resurfacing approximately 80 kms of sealed roads, $2.3 million on maintenance of the 137 kms of footpaths across the district and $1.43 million on maintaining the 1,116kms of unsealed roads across the district.

Some of our transport projects are co-funded by the NZTA through the National Land Transport Programme. Because the Council received less funding than requested, some projects have been rephased to allow for the NZTA funding shortfall.

Community services and facilities

$7 million total project spend

Community facilities are a vital part of Selwyn District, providing the spaces where residents can meet, exercise, play, and learn. The Council continues to invest in facilities to meet the needs of a growing population.

This will include community centre roof renewals; community centres’ minor works renewal programme; swimming pools renewals; and advancing the Prebbleton Community Centre project.

For 2026/27 the detailed design and costings for Whata Rau (Leeston community centre) are to be developed.

Stormwater and water races

$2.48 million total project spend
This includes network upgrades, preliminary design, and resource consents.

We will invest a further $1.1 million on water race maintenance and renewals.

Other Capital Spend

Other projects across the district include:

  • Procuring the Leeston Medical Centre design.
  • Land drainage related to ecological enhancement (district wide).
  • Design and construction of community centre roofs (district wide).
  • Repairs following natural events (district wide).
  • Carpark and Roadways Rolleston Recreation Precinct (Goulds Road) - new parking set to be completed by 2027.
  • Prebbleton Community Centre construction. Planning to start in July 2026. This will include investigating location options for the facility and potential land purchases.
  • Digital systems transformation project to update booking and building consent online systems and processes.

Combined Council and Selwyn Water rates and water charges

Selwyn Water Limited (Selwyn Water) was established in July 2025 as a new Council-Controlled Organisation (CCO) to deliver drinking and wastewater services. These used to be provided by Selwyn District Council, which continues to deliver stormwater, land drainage and water race services. The change was implemented as part of central government reforms.

From a rates perspective, this means that from 1 July 2026 residents will be billed separately by Selwyn Water for drinking water and wastewater charges. The organisation is currently preparing a Water Services Strategy detailing its services and costs. Selwyn District Council is preparing an amendment to the Long-Term Plan 2024-34 to ensure these changes can happen.

This consultation only relates to Selwyn District Council’s Annual Plan and the services it delivers but we want ratepayers to have an understanding of what the total change to rates charges for the Council and Selwyn Water might look like. Scenarios showing what these increases could look like for some ratepayers are on pages 13 and 14.

Examples of Selwyn District Council responsibilities

Transport
(roading, paths, cycleways, street lights)

Kerbside rubbish collection and disposal.

Community services such as libraries and community centres.

Stormwater, land drainage and water races.

Parks, playgrounds and recreation.


Examples of Selwyn Water responsibilities

Clean tap water for cooking and drinking.

Wastewater disposal including sewage, and greywater from showers and sinks.

Earlier modelling in the Council’s Water Services Delivery Plan indicated a 24% increase in water charges for 2026/27. Ongoing improvements to asset and customer data have enabled Selwyn Water to reduce this figure to around 18%. Final pricing will be confirmed after engagement on the WSS.

Find out more about your rates at selwyn.govt.nz/rates

Upper Selwyn Huts

In addition to the options for increased rates, the Council would like your feedback on the following proposal for Upper Selwyn Huts. During 2024 and 2025, the Council engaged and consulted with Upper Selwyn Huts’ licence holders on the future length of a Deed of Licence, taking into consideration current and future environmental factors.

In September 2025, the Council decided to provide new licences for a term of 30 years, with a formal review at year 20. The Council also agreed to set the new licence fees in the Draft Annual Plan 2026/27.

The licence fee for each property in Upper Selwyn Huts is proposed to be reduced from $1389.00 to $575.00 annually. There is also an additional targeted rate proposed for waste management.

Find out more about these proposed changes for Upper Selwyn Huts.


Submission Form

Submissions close at 11.59pm, Sunday 26 April 2026. You do not have to answer every question. You can make a general submission or submit on matters not included in the consultation document by completing question 9. Anonymous submissions will not be accepted.

Submissions, including names, are published on our website, so do not include any personal information you would prefer to keep private within your submission. Please contact us at yoursay@selwyn.govt.nz or 0800 735 996 if you think information within your submission should be kept confidential. View our full Privacy Policy at selwyn.govt.nz/privacy.


About the Annual Plan

The Annual Plan outlines what Selwyn District Council wants to achieve in the next financial year from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027, and how that work will be funded. It is part of the Council’s planning cycle.

During the last local body elections in October 2025, the Mayor and Councillors heard from residents that they were concerned about rates affordability and asked the Council to do more to live within its means. In this Draft Annual Plan 2026/2027 consultation, the Council provides three options for a rates increase lower than the predicted 13.3% in the Long-Term Plan 2024-2034, and how these would be achieved. It also highlights consultation on the Upper Selwyn Huts.

We want to know what you think about the proposals. You can provide feedback between 16 March and 26 April 2026. After that, Councillors will hear from those wishing to speak to their submission during the hearings 11-22 May and deliberate on all feedback before finalising the Annual Plan by 30 June.

If you have any questions, come to one of the Annual Plan community events that will be held across Selwyn by your elected representatives and Council staff.

What changes are proposed? What we will deliver Upper Selwyn Huts Combined Council and Selwyn Water rates and water charges Draft Annual Plan Document Make a submission

What changes are proposed?

To achieve a lower rates increase, the Council developed a prioritisation tool to look at potential savings within the organisation as well as in the services and projects it delivers for Waikirikiri Selwyn residents. Where possible, it also wanted to ensure that a user pays policy was being properly applied for fees and charges, so that costs were not being spread across everyone's rates.

As a result of this work, the Council now has three potential weighted average rates increases for Selwyn District residents to consider. These are:

6.5%

5.4%

4.9%


The following proposed measures are estimated to save Selwyn District Council $9.2 million and are included in all three rates increase options.

1. Increase user pays charges

  • An $8 per dog increase in dog registration fees to reduce the amount that rates subsidise dog control budgets.
    Potential saving $100,000.
  • Increase in some building consent fees by approximately 25% to reduce the entire amount subsidised by ratepayers.
    Potential saving $2.5 million.
  • Change the Strategic Relationships Manager Service to a requested service, and recover approximately 75% of the cost from fees and charges. This service assists people through land development regulatory processes.
    Potential saving $300,000.
  • Increase fees for fitness classes, while keeping them cost competitive with other South Island facilities. Casual group aqua fitness class fees to increase from $10.90 to $11.70. Membership fees to rise by 7%. These classes are already user pays.
    Potential revenue increase $10,000.

For more detail, see page 30 in the Draft Annual Plan.

2. Scale back the Council’s Economic Development Programme

The Council is proposing to scale back the Economic Development Programme by 75%. The Kai Aku Rika Economic Development Strategy is Selwyn’s roadmap for ensuring future growth is focused and sustainable over the next decade. The remaining budget would contribute to work on a community-led energy hub; dark sky accreditation; supporting local township promotion; investment ready business cases which involve central government and other investors; and limited responses to emerging opportunities.
Potential saving $650,000.

Some areas that would be affected include:

  • Business Support Service would not be established, meaning businesses would not have a single point of contact to help them navigate Council processes, set up in Waikirikiri Selwyn, or connect with local support.
  • The Innovation Challenge event would not be run, removing an opportunity for local businesses, students, and experts to work together on solving real‑world issues such as infrastructure challenges.
  • The Council would not fund a physical Innovation Hub, so any start-up or innovation space would need to be delivered by private developers or investors.
  • The Strategic Events Fund would stop, so Council would not provide funding to help attract or support major events in the district.

For more detail, see page 18 in the Draft Annual Plan

3. Change the Capital Works Programme

In the 2026/27 year, the Council will continue its investment in essential infrastructure and services to support the district’s growth and enhance people’s wellbeing. It is proposing to spend about $86 million on capital projects.

This sum is lower than forecast for year three of the Long-Term Plan 2024-2034 but the change is mainly due to the removal of drinking water and wastewater projects that were transferred to Selwyn Water, along with rephasing of a number of projects, including those listed below. The change in capital project spend would be unlikely to have a significant impact on levels of service provided by the Council.
Potential saving $400,000.

Rephased projects:

  • Selwyn and Dunns Crossing Road roundabout (SNP)
  • Lincoln ‘Park N Ride’
  • Rolleston Town Centre development
  • Springs and Hamptons Road roundabout
  • Kakaha Park stormwater remediation
  • Tennyson and Moore Street roundabout
  • Moore Street extension
  • Whitecliffs Bridge replacement professional services
  • Lincoln Town Centre upgrade
  • Selwyn District Council offices - pod/meeting space extension

For more detail, see the Appendix on page 133 in the Draft Annual Plan

4. Reduce grant funding

While Selwyn District Council remains committed to supporting community initiatives that make Waikirikiri Selwyn a great place to live, work and play, a 24% reduction in the Council’s community grants budget is being proposed for the 2026/27 year to help it reduce the rates increase. Below is the list of funds that would be reduced. No funds have been disestablished.
Potential saving $263,000, applied to any or all of the following grant funds:

  • Community History Fund
  • Heritage Protection Fund
  • Natural Environment Fund
  • Meet Your Street Fund
  • Strategic Partnership Fund
  • Heritage Consents Fund
  • Individual and Teams Fund
  • Tertiary Scholarships Fund
  • Predator Free 2050 Fund
  • Mayor and Councillors Fund

For more detail, see page 29 in the Draft Annual Plan.

5. Reduce event funding

Substantial savings have been identified from stopping or reducing the amount of funding provided for Council events. The Council is specifically considering not providing the Teddy Bear’s Picnic and Music in the Park, in the next ‘Summer in Selwyn’ event season. Funding for Kite Day would also be scaled back by reducing advertising or sourcing sponsorship. ANZAC Day grants to community organisations would remain as currently budgeted.
Potential saving $107,000.

For more detail, see page 29 in the Draft Annual Plan.

6. Review District Park Project

The District Park is planned to be on Council land near the corner of Levi and Weedons Roads. As this project is still at the design phase, we are proposing to revisit its scope, size and scale to see if there are any cost efficiencies to be achieved, particularly in ongoing operating costs. Councillors also want to know whether the design is in tune with Waikirikiri Selwyn’s actual population growth rather than earlier forecasted growth, which was lower. A spatial plan will be prepared over the next year which will map out services and facilities across the district. The District Park will be included in this plan. The timing of this review would put the detailed design phase for the District Park into the 2027/2028 financial year.

For more detail, see page 29 in the Draft Annual Plan.

7. Reduce Operating Costs

Internally, the Council has identified a range of opportunities that could reduce operating costs, while continuing to deliver services that matter to the Waikirikiri Selwyn community. These focus on fiscal scrutiny on spending, removing duplication, working more effectively, and generating additional income where appropriate.

Overall, these changes might have an impact on the way we work and the resourcing requirements. Any changes to resource requirements would ideally be managed through effective workforce planning.

These initiatives include:

  • Closing Council facilities during the Christmas and New Year period and on public holidays, and going cashless in all Council facilities, excluding the Council office in Rolleston.
    Potential saving $83,000.
    For more detail, see page 30 in the Draft Annual Plan.
  • Scaling back work on the delivery of strategies in the next year, including the Piki Amokura Youth Strategy, Te Paepae Ageing Well Strategy, and Te Rautaki Tikaka Rua Bicultural Strategy.
    Potential saving $422,000.
    For more detail, see pages 19 and 20 in the Draft Annual Plan.
  • Reduction in Council-run library programmes and exhibitions, and no improvement to the Selwyn Libraries website, selwynlibraries.co.nz. This approach includes working more closely with local arts and heritage groups with a focus on local content, not rotating exhibitions as often, and increased use of material already owned by Council.
    Potential saving $200,000.
    For more detail, see page 30 in the Draft Annual Plan.
  • Reduce the Future Projects budget to assist in meeting the desired rates range. This budget is to cover potential work that may arise during the year.
    Potential saving $84,000.

Efforts required to reduce the rates rise to 6.5%

Total potential saving $9.2 million.

To reach a 6.5% rate rise, the changes outlined above would need to be implemented. However, unlike the proposal for a 5.4% rate rise (below), budgets that had not been spent in the current financial year (2025/26) would not cause a reduction in the total budgeted amount for the next financial year (2026/27).

Efforts required to reduce the rates rise to 5.4%

Total potential saving $10.1 million.

The actions required to reduce the rates rise to 5.4% are discussed above. In addition to those actions, where existing budgets have not been spent this financial year, that amount would also be removed from the relative budget in the next financial year. There would be no difference in levels of service for Waikirikiri Selwyn ratepayers between a 6.5% and 5.4% rate increase.

Efforts required to reduce the rates rise to 4.9%

Total potential saving $10.5 million.

The rates increase could be reduced to 4.9% by significantly reducing recruitment at Selwyn District Council for the next year; removing some roles from budgets; and substantially reducing the consultants’ budget across the organisation. This option may increase the risk of the Council not achieving some levels of service, capital projects, and its regulatory functions within required timeframes.

Fees and charges

Please refer to the ‘Fees and Charges’ and ‘Coming up in 2026/27’ sections on pages 95-125 of the draft Annual Plan for Selwyn District Council’s proposed fees and charges for 2026/27.

The majority of our fees and charges will only increase from 2025/26 levels by the rate of inflation (2.7%) and some will not increase at all. However, there are some fees and charges that we are proposing to increase by higher amounts to enable a reduction in the rates increase, or where fees and charges have not increased in several years. In some cases, new fees and charges are proposed to be added. Notable proposed changes and a full comparison table of fees and charges from 2025/26 to the proposed 2026/27 levels are available here.

Tell us what you think

Fill out a submission form now and tell us what you like and don't like about the proposed changes.

What we will deliver

In the coming year, we propose to continue our investment in essential infrastructure and services to support the district’s ongoing growth and enhance residents’ wellbeing. This year, we propose to commit approximately $86 million to capital projects. This is lower than the Long-Term Plan 2024-2034 year three forecast because many projects are in the design stage with budgets that need to be moved out by a year (rephasing). This will not significantly alter levels of service. A change to this year’s plan is that water and wastewater projects are now being delivered by Selwyn Water. The following is a summary of some of the scheduled projects.

Transportation

Approximately $57 million total project spend

We will continue our focus on road maintenance and building critical transport connections across our district. Major projects scheduled to be delivered in 2026/27 include the Lincoln Town Centre intersection improvements ($13.9 million), the realignment of Jones Road and Two Chain Road ($7.9 million), and creating the Walkers Road and Two Chain Road roundabout ($7.5 million). Both of the latter projects are to support the construction of the new SH1 flyover.

Projects currently at the design stages include the Lincoln Reserve extension ($2.85 million); Whitecliffs Bridge replacement ($2.5 million); Ellesmere Road seal widening ($2.2 million); Selwyn and Springston Rolleston Road roundabout ($1.2 million); the Rolleston Town Centre square and car park completion ($0.9 million).

Investment in local roads will include $8.3 million spent on resurfacing approximately 80 kms of sealed roads, $2.3 million on maintenance of the 137 kms of footpaths across the district and $1.43 million on maintaining the 1,116kms of unsealed roads across the district.

Some of our transport projects are co-funded by the NZTA through the National Land Transport Programme. Because the Council received less funding than requested, some projects have been rephased to allow for the NZTA funding shortfall.

Community services and facilities

$7 million total project spend

Community facilities are a vital part of Selwyn District, providing the spaces where residents can meet, exercise, play, and learn. The Council continues to invest in facilities to meet the needs of a growing population.

This will include community centre roof renewals; community centres’ minor works renewal programme; swimming pools renewals; and advancing the Prebbleton Community Centre project.

For 2026/27 the detailed design and costings for Whata Rau (Leeston community centre) are to be developed.

Stormwater and water races

$2.48 million total project spend
This includes network upgrades, preliminary design, and resource consents.

We will invest a further $1.1 million on water race maintenance and renewals.

Other Capital Spend

Other projects across the district include:

  • Procuring the Leeston Medical Centre design.
  • Land drainage related to ecological enhancement (district wide).
  • Design and construction of community centre roofs (district wide).
  • Repairs following natural events (district wide).
  • Carpark and Roadways Rolleston Recreation Precinct (Goulds Road) - new parking set to be completed by 2027.
  • Prebbleton Community Centre construction. Planning to start in July 2026. This will include investigating location options for the facility and potential land purchases.
  • Digital systems transformation project to update booking and building consent online systems and processes.

Combined Council and Selwyn Water rates and water charges

Selwyn Water Limited (Selwyn Water) was established in July 2025 as a new Council-Controlled Organisation (CCO) to deliver drinking and wastewater services. These used to be provided by Selwyn District Council, which continues to deliver stormwater, land drainage and water race services. The change was implemented as part of central government reforms.

From a rates perspective, this means that from 1 July 2026 residents will be billed separately by Selwyn Water for drinking water and wastewater charges. The organisation is currently preparing a Water Services Strategy detailing its services and costs. Selwyn District Council is preparing an amendment to the Long-Term Plan 2024-34 to ensure these changes can happen.

This consultation only relates to Selwyn District Council’s Annual Plan and the services it delivers but we want ratepayers to have an understanding of what the total change to rates charges for the Council and Selwyn Water might look like. Scenarios showing what these increases could look like for some ratepayers are on pages 13 and 14.

Examples of Selwyn District Council responsibilities

Transport
(roading, paths, cycleways, street lights)

Kerbside rubbish collection and disposal.

Community services such as libraries and community centres.

Stormwater, land drainage and water races.

Parks, playgrounds and recreation.


Examples of Selwyn Water responsibilities

Clean tap water for cooking and drinking.

Wastewater disposal including sewage, and greywater from showers and sinks.

Earlier modelling in the Council’s Water Services Delivery Plan indicated a 24% increase in water charges for 2026/27. Ongoing improvements to asset and customer data have enabled Selwyn Water to reduce this figure to around 18%. Final pricing will be confirmed after engagement on the WSS.

Find out more about your rates at selwyn.govt.nz/rates

Upper Selwyn Huts

In addition to the options for increased rates, the Council would like your feedback on the following proposal for Upper Selwyn Huts. During 2024 and 2025, the Council engaged and consulted with Upper Selwyn Huts’ licence holders on the future length of a Deed of Licence, taking into consideration current and future environmental factors.

In September 2025, the Council decided to provide new licences for a term of 30 years, with a formal review at year 20. The Council also agreed to set the new licence fees in the Draft Annual Plan 2026/27.

The licence fee for each property in Upper Selwyn Huts is proposed to be reduced from $1389.00 to $575.00 annually. There is also an additional targeted rate proposed for waste management.

Find out more about these proposed changes for Upper Selwyn Huts.


Submission Form

Submissions close at 11.59pm, Sunday 26 April 2026. You do not have to answer every question. You can make a general submission or submit on matters not included in the consultation document by completing question 9. Anonymous submissions will not be accepted.

Submissions, including names, are published on our website, so do not include any personal information you would prefer to keep private within your submission. Please contact us at yoursay@selwyn.govt.nz or 0800 735 996 if you think information within your submission should be kept confidential. View our full Privacy Policy at selwyn.govt.nz/privacy.


  • Impacts of proposals on Selwyn residents

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    Young Rolleston family
    At 5.4% rates increase

    Tane and Victoria moved to Rolleston eight years ago and have since welcomed son, Oliver, daughter, Sophie, and a dog called Schnitzel. The couple love being part of the Rolleston community and enjoy taking the children to many local events, such as Kite Day, the Teddy Bears’ Picnic, and Music in the Park. They have made some great friends in their neighbourhood and don’t see themselves moving anytime soon but are concerned about the impact rates increases could have on the monthly household budget. Tane’s parents are also contemplating escaping the hustle and bustle of Auckland and making the move to Waikirikiri Selwyn to build their dream retirement home.

    If rates are increased by 5.4%, Tane and Victoria’s rates bill won’t be as high as earlier predicted but they will need to pay more for the services and facilities they use. For example, they will need to pay an extra $8 in the 2026/27 year to register their dog.

    Victoria’s Bodybalance classes at Selwyn Sports Centre will increase to $12, and some of the events that the whole family enjoys will be scaled back or not held in the next 12 months.

    Tane and Victoria have been planning for several years to start their own business in Rolleston and are looking forward to tapping into local business initiatives.

    They are keen to access any opportunities that might be delivered through the Kai Aku Rika Economic Development Strategy. Without the Business Support Service, they are unlikely to have a single point of contact to help them navigate Council processes and set up in Waikirikiri Selwyn.

    In addition to their rates bill, Tane and Victoria will need to pay Selwyn Water charges for drinking water and wastewater services. With a proposed 18% increase in water charges from last year, they will pay on average an additional $280. This will be less if they are careful with their water use.

    Their predicted rates for 2026/27

    Property Capital Value

    $820,000

    Selwyn District Council rates

    $3,227

    Selwyn Water Limited fees and charges

    $1,831


    Horticultural farmer from Southbridge
    At 5.4% rates increase

    Belinda is a horticultural farmer in her 40s living in the Southbridge area. She loves getting out on her property each day, enjoying the wide open spaces, and working her land. She couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. Waikirikiri Selwyn is home.

    Belinda understands her rates increase will be lower than predicted this year. Living rurally, she doesn’t access many of the Council services and events that people in urban centres regularly use.

    She operates an approximately 145 hectare farm valued at $7.6 million, and would pay $15, 278.00 in rates in the next financial year, which would include Council water race charges. Belinda has her own bore for drinking water and her own septic tank.

    Selwyn District Council’s increased focus on user pays charges will however mean a $8 per dog increase in the registration fees she has to pay for her dogs. She is also hoping to upgrade one of her outbuildings this year to use it as short term accommodation. With the increase in building consent fees, this will cost her a little more than expected.

    Belinda welcomes the work planned for the Leeston Medical Centre in 2026/27 and ongoing road maintenance around her area. She also enjoys attending the District’s annual ANZAC Day events with her family.

    Her predicted rates for 2026/27

    Property Capital Value

    $7.6 million

    Selwyn District Council rates

    $15,287

    Selwyn Water Limited fees and charges

    $0


    Retired Darfield couple
    At 5.4% rates increase

    Pam and Bill are a retired couple in their 70s who love the country lifestyle in Darfield. They enjoy regularly walking into town to browse the local shops and taking their grandchildren through the Magical Fairy Door Walk in McHughs Forest Park. Once a week they go on an outing to Darfield Pool for a morning Aqua Fitness class, followed by lunch at their favourite café.

    As retirees, their income is fixed and carefully budgeted each fortnight, so they are glad the Council is working to reduce the rates increase this year. An increase in the price of the classes at the pool will however need to be factored into their weekly spending.

    Pam and Bill are big history buffs, having both been secondary school teachers. They spend a lot of time in the Darfield Library and Service Centre reading and doing research, alongside volunteering work in the community. A reduction in community grants funding may have an impact on the groups they volunteer for, requiring them to have a greater focus on fundraising. Fewer Council run library programmes may also impact their weekly activities.

    In the past, they have enjoyed taking their grandchildren to several family-focused events in Rolleston. In 2026/27 there will be less to choose from. Pam and Bill have owned their three bedroom home for more than 20 years. They have their own septic tank. The property is valued at $550,000. If the rates increase was 5.4% they would pay $2702.00 in rates in the 2026/27 year and an average of $879 for their water bill through Selwyn Water, or less with lower water use.

    Their predicted rates for 2026/27

    Property Capital Value

    $550,000

    Selwyn District Council rates

    $2,702

    Selwyn Water Limited fees and charges

    $879


Page last updated: 19 Mar 2026, 12:51 PM