Draft Annual Plan 2026-2027

We’re now in Year 3 of our 2024-2034 Long-term Plan (LTP), which was adopted in October 2024 after a lot of community input. The LTP sets our direction, budget and work for the next decade.

The Draft Annual Plan reviews our budgets against what was set out in the LTP and makes adjustments based on what we propose to do in the 2026-2027 financial year.

Get informed | Summary of what's changed | Rates impact | How to make a submission

Get informed

This web page provides info, links and resources to help you make an informed submission.

Submissions can be made on any aspect of the draft Annual Plan. Highlighted consultation topics include:

• Topic 1: Proposed changes to user fees and charges
• Topic 2: Wānaka-Upper Clutha Community Board priority projects
• Topic 3: Our progress to develop the long term plan 2027-2037

Use the Document Library section on the right hand side of this page to download the consultation document and full Draft Annual Plan supporting document. We've also split out some other key information to make it easy to access.

The consultation document will also be distributed via email to a range of groups, and in hard copy to Council offices, libraries and recreation centres across the district.

Draft Annual Plan 2026-2027 drop-in sessions

Sessions were held on:

• Wednesday 1 April, 11.00am–2.00pm, Arrowtown Tennis Club Rooms

• Thursday 2 April, 11.00am–2.00pm, Queenstown Events Centre

• Tuesday 7 April, 11.00am–2.00pm, Lake Wānaka Centre

• Thursday 16 April, 3.30pm - 6.30pm, outside Queenstown PAK'n'SAVE supermarket

Submissions closed on 24 April 2026.

Summary of what's changed

The consultation document also outlines some changes to what was originally proposed for year 3 of the Long Term Plan 2024-2034. In summary:

The capital investment programme contained within the Annual Plan 2026-2027 is $205.8M.
This is a reduction of $8.8M from the year 3 budget in the LTP 2024-2034 ($214.6M). Of this, 54% or $110.3M of the budget is allocated to investment in Three Waters across the district. This is the last year we will be including Three Waters in the QLDC budget.

Operating expenditure for 2026-2027 is forecast to be $291M.
While considering budgets for 2026-2027, there has been several operational savings made. This includes limiting new staff roles to those considered business critical and reducing the professional services budget. It also factors in additional revenue achieved through filling previously vacant positions, enabling greater efficiencies and improved service delivery.

Key performance indicator update
We've identified a better way to measuring participation in sport and recreation across the district.

Changes to Arrowtown Promotion Levy
Recently the Arrowtown Promotion and Business Association passed a formal motion to adjust the total annual levy for 2026-2027. This authorises an increase in the collective membership levy, collected by QLDC from Arrowtown Commercial Ratepayers to a total of $405,706. This is 95% funded by the Arrowtown Tourism Promotion Rate and 5% by the Uniform Annual General Charge.

Changes to Development Contributions
We'll be reviewing the Development Contributions Policy in full as part of the Long Term Plan 2027-2037. In the meantime, the Local Government Act allows for annual adjustments to be made. Read more about the changes below.

>> Table of changes to Development Contributions Policy for 2026-2027

Rates impact

Council has reviewed the total funding requirements for the year - including operating and capital expenditure, debt servicing, and reserve contributions. Following this review, Council has set a rates revenue target of $202.9m.

The proposed average rates increase for 2026-2027 is 11.7%, after allowing for 3.5% growth. This increase is in line with the forecast rates increase for Year 3 of the LTP.

It wasn’t easy to get to this point, with significant work required to reduce this figure from 19% and ensure it remained aligned with our original projection. We achieved this through:

• Carefully considering every project planned for 2026-2027.
• Extending the payback period of the loan required to cover weather tightness claims, reducing the repayment from $8M to $5M in 2026-2027.
• Using income from the transport improvement fund which is made up of paid parking and infringements. This further reduces the budget by $3.1M for 2026-2027.
• Finding operational savings, such as limiting new staff roles for 2026-2027 and reducing the professional services budget.

Remember, 11.7% is an average figure. The actual increase for your property may be different depending on where you live, the type of property you own and which services you access.

In particular, we’d like to highlight higher proposed increases for those living in the small communities of Luggate, Hāwea, Kingston and Cardrona, due to required investment in essential water and wastewater infrastructure. Currently the cost to construct and service small community water schemes are generally funded by the communities they serve. Work is underway to consider further options which might spread the cost to improve the affordability of funding these schemes.

We've provided some more detailed information about the rates rises in Luggate, Hāwea, Kingston and Cardrona below. We've also provided rates table showing indicative rates movements for 2026-2027 below. And if you'd like to read about the numbers in a lot more detail, go to section 3 of the draft Annual Plan supporting document.

>> Rates table: summary of indicative total rate movements 2026-2027

>> Luggate rates increases: frequently asked questions

>> Lake Hāwea rates increases: frequently asked questions

>> Cardrona rates increases: fact sheet

>> Kingston rates: fact sheet

Submission process