Dear Christchurch City Council,

At a recent council information briefing, a member of staff discussed Developer Contributions for the Grassmere subdivision in Papanui that is moving through under central government "Fast-Track" legislation. A video of the council session can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/live/JafRpkbV87k...

Staff stated at timecode 18:24 that the Grassmere development will attract a dedicated DC overlay increasing the DC charge by $41,812 per HUE on top of the normal charge, for a total of $71,536 per HUE.

At timecode 21:45, the Mayor asks a followup question, the transcript of which is below:

Mayor: "On that one with Grassmere that you said, didn't we get given thirty odd million from the government for fast track stuff?"
Staff: "Yes, yes."
Mayor: "So why are we charging more if we got given money?"
Staff: "So I understand this is infrastructure we are required to put in, in addition to the funding that we have received."

My questions are:
1. Was the Mayor here referring to the Better Off support funding programme?
2. Does the mayor believe that the Better Off support funding programme is intended to support projects under the Fast Track legislation scheme? If so, how did he come to this belief? Please provide any communication, documents or advice to/from the Mayor regarding the Better Off support funding programme.
3. If this is not the Better Off support funding, please provide details of the "30 odd million" in central government funding that the Mayor is referring to here. Please also provide any communication, documents or advice about this funding or what it is intended to be used for.
4. Is the Council using this funding to offset the cost impacts of Fast Track schemes on City Council infrastructure? Please also provide any communication between the council and central government discussing the purposes for which the funding can be used. Specifically, anything mentioning the "Fast track" legislation or projects, or the Grassmere project.
5. How did council determine that the funding should be used for infrastructure growth related to Fast Track projects? Please provide any communication or advice about growth funding for infrastructure improvements specifically where it relates to the proposed Grassmere development.
6. Has the council lodged any project applications with Te Tari Taiwhenua Department of Internal Affairs for projects in the Papanui area under the Better Off support funding scheme? Is the Grassmere project mentioned in any past, current or future applications to the scheme? Please provide copies of, and communication relating to, any applications made under this scheme for the Grassmere development.
7. How did council determine that the Grassmere-specific DC overlay should be set at $41,812? Did the council consider increasing the DC charge higher than this? Please provide any communication, documents or advice about how this number was decided upon.
8. In the briefing, the staff member suggested that the $41,812 was for additional work on top of what was being "funded by the government". If government funding was not being used, what would the cost of Grassmere DC overlay increase to? Please provide any communication, documents or advice about how this number was decided upon.
9. Exactly what amount of the "30 odd million" dollars in funding is proposed to be spent on projects to support the Grassmere development?
10. What infrastructure or flood mitigation improvements are required as a result of the Grassmere subdivison going ahead? Please provide a list of work identified, as well as any cost estimates for these, as well what percentage of those costs is or is planned to be met by developer contributions, central government funding, or ratepayers.
11. Council previously released a list of Better Off funding projects on their website here: https://ccc.govt.nz/the-council/future-p.... Have the projects changed? Is this list up to date? Which of these projects were approved? Which of these projects have been completed? Please provide a current list of the completed and proposed projects under the Better Off funding scheme, including a general description and cost, ideally similar to the web page.
12. Were any projects declined funding under the Better Off scheme? Which projects were declined? Please provide any communication, documents or advice between council and DIA about any declined projects, and why they were declined.

Yours faithfully,

David Palmer