Cantabrians are set to receive cheaper public transport, more flood recovery support and an extra $300,000 in contestable community funding.
Cheaper transport will improve the social lives of those struggling with the cost of living crisis. Photo: Christchurch City Council
But it will come with a 16 percent rates increase.
The regional council adopted its Annual Plan today, with public transport the big ticket item - receiving $108m.
It it will cover a two-year trial of lower fares, which is set to begin February.
Under-25s, tertiary students, Total Mobility and Community Services Card holders will trial a flat $1 fare and all other travellers will have a $2 charge, excluding a few rural routes.
SuperGold Card users will also now get free public transport every day from 9am.
Currently, card holders only get free fares off peak hours - usually between 9am-3pm and after 6.30pm on week days.
Environment Canterbury chairperson, Jenny Hughey said it would improve the social lives of elderly people in the community.
"Not everybody is a rich pensioner," she said. "There are a lot of poor pensioners and most of them are women and there's getting to be more and more of them.
"They tell me that they can't go to things at the Workers Education Association because they can't stay there too late - they can't afford the bus fare home," she told colleagues today.
Electric buses, safety measures to protect drivers and passengers are also included.
But not everyone was happy.
Two councillors, Claire McKay and Megan Hands, voted against the plan.
McKay said she could not support a plan which will see a 16 percent rates increase for residents.
"There is no way to escape the fact that we are adding significantly to the cost of living crisis for our stressed and significantly impacted communities, already dealing with a myriad of escalating costs in their households and businesses. This rates bill will land in their letterboxes in a couple of months," she said.
The rates increase was originally set at 18 percent, but the council chose to borrow and delay some costs to bring the figure down.
A group of five councillors were also dismayed the bus trial had appeared to win out over biodiversity funding, which had a planting programme reduced and was given $6m.
Councillor Elizabeth McKenzie said it was very disappointing that half the councillors did not support funding for biodiversity and planting trees.
"We've had Banks Peninsula farmers come to us, asking for help to set aside land for indigenous biodiversity... and we're not funding that," she stated.
Other concerns raised were the timing of the bus trial and a lack of timely, efficient services.
Bus usage in Christchurch remains 30 to 40 percent lower than pre-pandemic levels, despite national public transport fares being half price since April.
