The Whakatane District Council is encouraging residents to become energy efficient by introducing zero consent fees for solar heating.

The council is also planning to reduce the cost in building and resource management consent fees as part of changes proposed for incorporation into its draft Long Term Plan.

The council's strategy and planning general manager, David Bewley, says amongst the raft of fee changes proposed to take effect on July 1, the council is planning to make consent to install solar water heating free.

He says under the current structure, the same ‘minor works' consent would cost $256.

'We've undertaken a comprehensive review of council policies and fees as part of the process of developing our draft Long Term Plan.

'The draft plan has yet to be approved by council and is currently undergoing audit.

'We expect it to go before council in March, after which the final draft will be available for public submissions.”
David says removal of the solar water heating consent fee reflects the council's wish to provide an incentive to use energy-efficient technology and make the best use of the plentiful sunshine hours available in the North Island's sunniest spot.

Under the proposed fee changes, most building consents and resource management consents administered by the council would reduce in cost by up to 33 per cent.

David says the council's focus on promoting sustainable development throughout the district has also led to a review of its development contributions policy.

'The purpose of the charge is to ensure developers make a fair contribution towards the cost of meeting any additional demand on our infrastructure and reserves that will result from the development undertaken.

'The lower charges proposed take into account the fact that growth assumptions for the next 10 years have reduced, and that the capital works programme proposed in the draft Long Term Plan has also reduced in most areas.”

If adopted, most parts of the district will see a significant drop in the development contribution.

In Ohope, Otarawairere and Piripai, the charge would fall by 12.5 per cent, 7.6 per cent and 18 per cent respectively.

In the Matahina/Minginui and Murupara area, the charge would fall by more than 70 per cent and in the northern rural area (excluding Plains, Matahina/Minginui and Murupara), a reduction of more than 55 per cent is proposed.

In the Whakatane urban area and plains area, increases of 5.9 per cent and 2.3 per cent respectively would apply, reflecting the capital works programmes planned in those areas.