Meeting over building consent fees

Kate Wilson
Kate Wilson
The Dunedin City Council will host building industry groups in the next two or three weeks to try to deal with the fallout from a report that showed the city's building consent fees were significantly higher than the fees charged by other centres.

Cr Kate Wilson said yesterday she hoped the groups could assist the council with information to address the problem.

The council last month received a report showing both the cost of consents, and the cost of running the building control department, were higher in Dunedin.

Since last year, building industry figures have been claiming Dunedin's consent fees were at least double those in other areas, and the cost was passed on to consumers, making it more difficult for people to build.

Registered Master Builders Federation Otago president Mark Ward said yesterday his organisation had discussed the issue "briefly" at a recent meeting, and had formed a subcommittee that would communicate with the council.

Mr Ward said he had discussed the matter with Cr Wilson, and had heard the council's side of the debate.

He had also been asked to produce information for the council, though was unsure whether it was his organisation's role to do that.

He was also still concerned about aspects of the council's building consent work, including the three to four days it took to get a building inspector to visit, Mr Ward said.

At a time when less work was being done, there should not be delays, he said.

Mr Ward said the Registered Master Builders conference would be held in Auckland next weekend, and he was sure the issue of high consent fees would be raised.

Cr Wilson said the meeting would give those attending the opportunity to discuss the issues, and have input into the solutions.

- david.loughrey@odt.co.nz

 

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