Review of Fees and Charges for 2018-2021

2018-04-14T00:00:00 Pacific/Auckland

Summary of Information and Statement of Proposal - Review of Fees and Charges for 2018-2021

Pursuant to Sections 83 and 87, Local Government Act 2002, Environment Southland (the Southland Regional Council) gives notice of its intention to replace the current schedule of fees and charges as included in the 2015-2028 Long-term Plan, with a reviewed set of fees and charges. The reviewed set of fees and charges would take effect from 1 July 2018.

Summary of Information - Main Changes

• General and resource management
• Water research and management

The fees and charges in the existing schedule incorporated into the 2015 Long-term Plan, have been reviewed and updated to cover the next three-year period in the 2018 Long-term Plan. The majority of the changes reflect actual costs, increases in inflation, and adjustments to hourly rate amounts to cover staff costs, across various activities.

There are new charges for monitoring permitted plantation forestry activities, land information requests, and flood hazard assessments.

With significant increases in the Council's water research and management programmes in recent years being driven by national legislation and no sign of abatement in these requirements, there is a need for Council to ensure that the actual users (consent holders) contribute a fair share towards those costs.

The current level of funding from users into the water research and management programme sits below the level of recovery expected by the Council's financial policies. The Council's Financial Strategy and Revenue and Financing Policy confirm a user pay approach and on that basis, Council considers that the costs associated with those activities need to be in line with those policies.

To recognise that situation, Council is proposing an increase in the annual water research and management charges. The scope of activities to be charged for has also been extended from surface water and groundwater takes to include coastal permits, air discharge permits, land and water discharge permits.

Statutory Processes

The following are the various statutes, bylaws and policies that have received consideration in this proposal:

• Sections 83 and 87 of the Local Government Act 2002;
• Section 36 of the Resource Management Act 1991;
• Resource Management (National Environmental Standards for Plantation Forestry) Regulations 2017;
• Section 150 of the Local Government Act 2002;
• Section 128 of the Biosecurity Act 1993;
• Section 243 of the Building Act 2004;
• Southland Regional Council Navigation Safety Bylaws;
• Coastal Occupation Charges from Policy 9.1.9 of the Southland Regional Coastal Plan; and
• Section 13 of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987.

Have your say

Copies of the Summary of Information and Statement of Proposal are available on Environment Southland's web site at www.es.govt.nz/council/consultations/Pages/Fees-and-Charges-for-2018-2021.aspx. Public notification of the Summary of Information and the Statement of Proposal will be undertaken on 14 April 2018.

Council is interested in receiving submissions/feedback on all matters relating to the draft reviewed Fees and Charges 2018-2021. Submissions close with the Council on 16 May 2018. A submission/feedback form is attached to the back of the Statement of Proposal with options on how you can return your submission/feedback to us.

Council expects to hear and consider all submissions/feedback on 7 June 2018. Council will make decisions on the fee structure with the new fees and charges being applied from 1 July 2018.

If you have any questions about:-

• the proposed resource management fees and charges, you can contact Vin Smith, Director of Policy, Planning and Regulatory Services (vin.smith@es.govt.nz).
• the annual water research and management charges, you can contact Graham Sevicke-Jones, Director of Science and Information (graham.sevicke-jones@es.govt.nz).
• the consultation process, contact Ken Swinney (ken.swinney@es.govt.nz).

Telephone 0800 76 88 45 (Southland only) or 03 211 5115.