How often do you wonder what you get for paying your rates? Most people work out those direct services that they experience for themselves as where the value is. Certainly that’s my first thought.
Given we don’t even get a rubbish collection service I often wonder whether we’re getting value from our Council. It’s not that I’ve got a complaint to make as I always find the people at the Council helpful and efficient. Certainly when it came to getting our resource and building consents they were nothing but helpful but then I guess I was paying them handsomely for that service.
This week I found out a bit more about what I get for my rates. Take a look at this.
I pay $500 a year for this and other associated services. This is the amount of rates I pay to Wellington Regional Council. They play an important role in protecting the local environment and manage all of the parks and forests in the proximity to where we live. You could say that we’re neighbours really.
That contraption does this.
Impressive eh! Or what about this?
These regional council folks are monitoring the river – collecting data about cleanliness and other factors. But it’s not just a silly looking contraption they have it’s all high tech.
It’s good to know that such activity is taking place. I just hope these guys weren’t affecting the readings.
There were three dogs close by who had all swum across the river with their owner and enjoying the warm sunshine. There was one that was rather too interested in Fortnum and Mason and decided it was worth an effort to come and meet them.
I can tell you that he swum the width of the Hutt River in less than a minute. He was one strong little swimmer. I can’t see Fortnum and Mason swimming like that although I admit that I’ve never taught them. Maybe the next sunny day we’ll head to the river and give it a go!