Development Contribution Fees
Why do we have development contribution fees?
The development contribution fee is based on the level of demand your activity will place on the District’s infrastructure. For example, a new house will require water to be supplied to it, and will require its stormwater, wastewater and solid waste to be removed and dealt with. The people that live in the house will use and therefore place additional demand on the District’s roads, reserves and community infrastructure. The development contribution fee recognises the additional demand being generated by your development and goes towards increasing and improving the District’s infrastructure so that it can cope with the growth. The Council’s Development Contributions Policy has been developed under section 106, sections 197-211 and schedule 13 of the Local Government Act 2002.
When do I have to pay a development contribution fee?
You may have to pay a development contribution fee when you do one of the following:
- Build a new house;
- Build a commercial or industrial development;
- Undertake subdivision or other development;
- Get a new service connection to water, sewerage or stormwater systems.
You will not be required to pay at each of the above steps. You will only pay once and this will be at the point of your final contact with Council on the issue. So for a building consent you will pay your development contribution fee no later than the time of issue of the Code Compliance Certificate.
For a resource consent you will pay no later that the issue of the section 224c (RMA 1991) certificate or when you take up your consent. For a service connection you will need to pay with your application to connect.
The level of your fee is assessed alongside your initial application,so you will have time to plan for and budget for the payment of the fee.
What happens if I don’t agree with the amount I have to pay?
You can apply to the Council to review the amount you have been charged. You have 15 working days to do that. The Council’s Hearings Committee will hear your case and you will be given an opportunity to speak at the meeting. You will be formally advised of the Committee’s decision within 10 working days of the meeting. There is also a $500 charge for a review.
Need more information?
View our Development Contribution Fee Information Sheet - (PDF, 315Kb)
You can also discuss your query with someone at the Council’s Customer Service Centre.
If they cannot help you, they will either be able to find out the information you want to know or refer you to the correct person. Phone 07 306 0500 or email: information@whakatane.govt.nz