The Thames-Coromandel District Council is proposing to increase some administrative fees and charges set under the Resource Management Act.

Council is now inviting public feedback on the proposed changes to the fees and charges, which are used to recover costs for processing applications and consents.

The Thames-Coromandel District Council is proposing to increase some administrative fees and charges set under the Resource Management Act. Photo: File

Applicants are charged by council for the reviewing and processing of applications for resource consents, subdivision applications, engineering works inspections and the preparation of documents.

Planning manager Michael Jones says council staff have reviewed the actual costs incurred over the 2015/16 financial year and found the current charges fall short.

'The proposed increases better reflect the average actual costs,” he explains.

'Our costs have gone up for a number of reasons, among them inflation and the increasingly complex nature of resource and subdivision consent applications.”

For example, in relation to subdivision consents the fixed initial deposit charges for survey plan approval which currently costs $360 would rise to $380.

While for resource consents, fixed initial deposit charges for non-notified applications for land use consents which currently cost $1100 would increase to $1200.

A fixed initial deposit charge is levied in some cases for a resource consent, and if an application costs less than this the balance will be refunded, while the applicant is invoiced the balance if it costs more.

Michael says the proposed changes will allow everyone to have a better understanding of what the true costs of their application will be.

HAVE YOUR SAY

Public consultation on the proposed changes opened this week and close at 4pm on Monday, May 9.

Formal hearings will not be held, but if people would to discuss the proposal with councillors they are encouraged to book a time during the public forum section of Council's May 18 meeting, starting at 9am.

Council will then consider submissions and any verbal presentations made before making a final decision on the fees and charges.

Any new fees and charges will come into effect on 1 July 2016 and will be included in the 2016/17 Annual Plan.

'We would usually consult on changes to fees and charges as part of a formal consultation on an annual plan or long term plan,” says council.

'But recent legislative changes mean we don't have to consult on annual plans if they don't have any significant or material changes to what was proposed in the last long term plan.”

During council's March meeting it was decided the proposed work programme for 2016/17 didn't have any significant or material changes from the 2015-2025 Long Term Plan, so formal consultation would not be undertaken.

Public information sessions on the 2016/17 Annual Plan will also take place in each community board area, beginning in Coromandel Town at 355 Kapanga Road on April 12, from 12-1pm.

It will be followed by a session at the Civic Centre on Mary Street in Thames on April 29, from 11:30am-1:30pm.

For more information or to make a submission visit the Thames-Coromandel District Council's Online Consultation Portal.