Council to Consider Raising Fees and Charges for Building and Planning Activities

For the first time since 2009, QLDC is considering increasing many of the fees and charges associated with building and resource consents, engineering approvals and inspections.

Next week the Council will consider a report which recommends raising a suite of fees for building and development activities from 1 July, subject to a full public consultation process during May.

While the Council has held fees and charges until now, the costs of providing these services have increased as a result of inflation since 2009, compounded by increased legislative requirements and an increased demand for a broader range of services.

Tony Avery, the General Manager of Planning and Development, said that the proposed increases were needed to cover those higher costs and to meet the Council’s policy requirement that 80 percent of the cost of providing building and resource consenting services should be met by those who use the services. The remaining 20 percent would continue to be met from rates.

The proposed increases cover the full range of services from building and resource consents through to PIM fees and subdivision certificates.

Mr Avery said that if the Council decided to increase fees after considering community views, the cost of obtaining building consents would remain a very small part of the cost of building or major renovations.

Depending on what the Council decides next Thursday, consultation could begin on 2 May, with submissions closing four weeks later.

ENDS

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