Consultation concluded on 7 June 2023
On 26 April 2023, Council endorsed the Draft Fees & Charges Schedule 2023/24 for 42 days public exhibition, for the period 27 April to 7 June 2023.
Feedback is sought on the proposed Fees & Charges Schedule, applicable in the 2023/24 financial year, inclusive of proposed increases in existing fees as well as proposed new fees. All existing and proposed fees and charges have been assessed according to the nature of the services being provided.
The Draft Fees & Charges Schedule 2023/24 was formulated with respect to a general increase of 7.65% over the previous year’s adopted schedule which was based on the change in All Groups CPI Sydney index from December 2021 to December 2022 and comparable market rates.
All existing and proposed fees and charges have been assessed according to the nature of the services being provided. The following factors have been considered in the analysis of the proposed fees and charges:
- cost recovery, including indirect costs recovery (full or partial)
- market pricing competitiveness (pricing of similar service providers)
- legislative constraints (non-discretionary fees)
- subsidies (capacity to pay)
Proposed variations compared the to the 2022/23 Schedule are summarised below:
New Fees
The following table details the proposed new fees:
| Category | Fee or Charge | Summary/Rationale |
| Hire of Council Facilities | Stanton Library daily small meeting room hire - page 15 | To provide a cost-effective option for smaller groups and maximise use of the large library conference room |
| Public Events | Public Events detailed events permit application fee - page 32 | To introduce permit fee for detailed events as events of this nature/size are generally as complex and time consuming to organise as complex events. |
| Public Events recovery of foregone parking meter revenue, high, medium and low demand areas - page 32 | To recover lost revenue from parking meters that are out of service due to a public event. | |
| Carparking Stations | Nicholson Street Car Park reserved parking signage fee - page 61 | Fee for initially making and fixing a sign for reserved parking. |
| Nicholson Street Car Park monthly discount for 40+ spaces - page 62 | Discount on the permanent parking rates for multiple (40+) space leasing at Nicholson St car park. | |
| Denison Street Car Park reserved parking signage fee - page 71 | Fee for initially making and fixing a sign for reserved parking. | |
| Denison Street Car Park monthly rate premium parking - page 71 | Rate per month for premium parking at 1 Denison St which includes security control access and end of trip facilities. | |
| Multi-Purpose Poles | Install 5G Infrastructure on Multipurpose Pole - page 100 | Per annum fee to install 5G infrastructure on multi-function poles |
| Permit Application Fee | Application to occupy a Council road and/or footpath permit fee - page 85 | Added as part of the introduction of a single application fee for stand plant, building materials on footpaths, skips and building waste applications and reinstatements permits to simplify the application process and improve efficiency. The substantial occupation fee is calculated and billed subsequently rather than at the time of application. |
| Occupy Council Land, Footpath, Roadway | Stand plant daily occupation fee (metered space, per day or part thereof) - page 86 | New basis of calculation is on actual spaces occupied rather than the average occupation of two space assumed in discontinued fee |
| Building materials on footpath weekly rate (per square metre) - page 87 | Flat weekly charge replaces previous charges increasing per week. | |
| Sporting Fields | Hourly rate additional grounds staff weekends for seniors, juniors/schools and social/casual - pages 128, 131 & 135 | To recover labour costs associated with weekend hire of sports fields. |
| Hourly hire fee touch football seniors, juniors/schools and social/casual - pages 126, 129 and 131 | To introduce a specific rate for touch football which in justified due to the impact on playing surfaces. | |
| Hourly hire fee turf cricket wickets seniors, juniors/schools and social/casual - pages 133, 134 and 135 | To introduce the NSROC standard flat hourly rate for wicket hire in place of daily weekday/weekend rates. | |
| Coal Loader | Coal Loader site guided tour fees for ticketed events conducted by not for-profit groups - page 148 | To introduce a fee where not for-profit groups include a guided tour of the Coal Loader facility as part of a ticketed event. |
| Construction Certificates | Amendment to construction certificate single dwelling - page 160 | To introduce a fee for amendments to ensure a more efficient process that is also consistent with other councils. |
| Amendment to construction certificate multi-occupancy - page 161 | To introduce a fee for amendments to ensure a more efficient process that is also consistent with other councils. | |
| Amendment to construction certificate commercial/ industrial/retail - page 162 | To introduce a fee for amendments to ensure a more efficient process that is also consistent with other councils. | |
| Amendment to construction certificate mixed development - page 165 | To introduce a fee for amendments to ensure a more efficient process that is also consistent with other councils. | |
| Complying Development Certificates | Amendment to complying development certificate - page 165 | To introduce a fee for amendments to ensure a more efficient process that is also consistent with other councils. |
| Development Applications | Giving of notice for other development for which a community participation plan requires notice be given - page 177 | To ensure consistency with Schedule 4 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2021 |
| Giving of notice for prohibited development - page 177 | To ensure consistency with Schedule 4 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2021 | |
| Section 4.55 & 4.56 Applications - pages 173 to 176 | To set out relevant 4.55 and 4.56 application fees in accordance with the scale contained in Schedule 4 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2021 | |
| Pool Inspections | Notification of Public Swimming Pool or Spa Pool Fee - page 183 | New fee under the Public Health Regulations. |
| Protection of Environment Notice | Reinspection Fee for Skin Penetration Premises (under 10 minutes and Compliant) - page 187 | New fee required for reinspection program. |
| Reinspection Fee for Skin Penetration Premises (over 10 minutes and/or non-compliant) - page 187 | New fee required for reinspection program. | |
| Food Premises | Registration Fee - Temporary Food/Market Stall (Low Risk) - 189 | To introduce a lower fee for low-risk stalls as little to no follow-up is required for inspections of this nature |
Fees with Material Increases
The following table lists the fees that have materially increased:
| Category | Fee or Charge | Summary/Change Rationale |
| Publicity, Promotions and Product Launches | Late Application Fee - per location (within 5 working days of event) - page 34 | Now includes application fee rather than just late fee |
| Reinstatements | Asphalt (50mm thick) on Concrete Base (200mm thick) Dowelled and Reinforced (per m2) - page 92 | Reflects quoted contractor rates |
| Construction of a standard concrete pram ramp - page 94 | To include traffic controller | |
| EKI - Replacement of Precast Inlet only (each) - page 98 | Reflects quoted cost of item | |
| Planning Proposal | Lodgement Fees - page 159- 160 | Fee increased to bring Council into line with neighbouring council's fees and charges relating to Planning Proposals. This forms part of new category system Minor, Major and Complex. |
Discontinued Fees
The following table lists the proposed fees to be discontinued:
| Category | Fee or Charge | Summary/Change Rationale |
| Stand Plant Permit | Rate Per day (Commercial areas) - page 86-87 | Replaced by metered and non-metered per-space occupied rate rather than average two spaces occupied assumed in discontinued fee |
| Rate Per day (Residential areas) - page 86-87 | Replaced by metered and nonmetered per-space occupied rate rather than average two spaces occupied assumed in discontinued fee | |
| Building Materials on Footpaths | Permit fee - page 87-88 | Replaced with flat weekly fee |
| Materials - 1st week - page 87-88 | Replaced with flat weekly fee | |
| Materials - 2nd week - page 87-88 | Replaced with flat weekly fee | |
| Materials - 3rd and subsequent weeks - page 87- 88 | Replaced with flat weekly fee | |
| Skips and Building Waste | Permit fee - page 62 | Skip Bins exceeding 20 Cubic Metres are not permitted |
| Skip Bins Over 20 Cubic Metres - Rate - 1st Week - page 90 | Skip Bins exceeding 20 Cubic Metres are not permitted | |
| Skip Bins Over 20 Cubic Metres - Rate - 2nd Week - page 90 | Skip Bins exceeding 20 Cubic Metres are not permitted | |
| Skip Bins Over 20 Cubic Metres - Rate - 3rd Week - page 90 | Skip Bins exceeding 20 Cubic Metres are not permitted | |
| Skip Bins Over 20 Cubic Metres - Rate - 4th and subsequent Weeks - page 90 | Skip Bins exceeding 20 Cubic Metres are not permitted | |
| Reinstatements | Road opening permit - page 91 | Discontinued due to the introduction of a single application fee for stand plant, building materials on footpaths, skips and building waste applications and reinstatements permits to simplify the application process and improve efficiency. |
| Sports Fields | Daily weekday/weekend turf cricket wicket seniors, juniors/schools and social/casual - pages 129, 133 and 134 | Replaced by the NSROC standard flat hourly rate for wicket hire in place of daily weekday/weekend rates |
| Development Applications | DA Compliance Levy - page 170 | Discontinued to ensure consistency with Schedule 4 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2021 |
| Standard Development Applications DA Advertising - page 170 | Discontinued to ensure consistency with Schedule 4 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2021 | |
| Original application greater than $100.00 - page 174 | Discontinued to ensure consistency with Schedule 4 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2021 |
SUBMISSIONS CLOSED
Submissions closed 11.59pm, 7 June 2023
For further information contact Council’s Manager Financial Services, Christian Menday on 9936 8100.
