Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) elected members have voted to adopt the Fees and Charges Review 2021 today at Full Council Meeting, with a new schedule of fees and charges to take effect from 1 July.

The Fees and Charges Review 2021 proposed a 10% to 15% increase in hourly rates for planning services, building consents, resource management engineering and other matters, and the change allows Council to achieve a fairer funding split between private users of the services and public ratepayers.

Five submissions were received on the matter during public consultation in March and April of 2021, with a Hearing of submissions held on 14 May and deliberations continuing until 3 June.

The new schedule will ensure customers pay the reasonable cost of services provided to them by Council, and without the increase in hourly rates, an increase in rates equivalent to $1.1M (1.2%) would have been required.

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