Farmers in the Queenstown Lakes district sitting on land zoned for development could be hit by rates rises of up to 154%.
Food premises, dog owners, people applying for resource consents and hydroslide users also face price hikes as the Queenstown Lakes District Council reviews its rates and fees.
The proposals are contained in a wide-ranging report to tomorrow's full council meeting in Wanaka by council chief financial officer Stewart Burns.
The report looks at ways to encourage the release of zoned land and deter ‘‘land banking'' by owners, suggesting
as a solution a tweak to the rating system which would hit owners in the pocket. At present, rates were applied to land based on its existing use, for example, primary industry.
But that rating did not take into account primary industry land with an ‘‘underlying zoning'' supporting development.
Mr Burns proposed the council's ‘‘vacant sections'' rating category be amended to capture all undeveloped land zoned to allow development.
‘‘The impact on properties currently rated as primary industry would see the rates increase by 43% to 154%, depending on location and connection of services.
‘‘The average increase for the 11 properties modelled was 86%, [a] total increase of $132,000.''
Also examined in the review were activities where ‘‘funding targets are not being met''.
That included food premises and dog owners, those applying for resource consents and Alpine Aqualand and waterways users, all likely to face price hikes.
Mr Burns' report proposed increased registration fees for de-sexed, dangerous/menacing and ‘‘all other dogs'', with no change to fees for guide/companion or working dogs.
Impound fees were also proposed to rise.
Users of Alpine Aqualand in Queenstown would also be hit in the pocket. Changes included a proposed 150% increase for casual users of the hydroslide, from $2 to $5, and a 33% increase in the cost of a child's casual visit, from $3 to $4.
Mr Burns proposed the council investigate a broader ‘‘waterways fee'' for users of boat ramps, jetties and navigation aids.
Changes to regulations would be required to allow infringement notices for non-compliance and it would ultimately increase revenue by 235% (or $56,000).
He also recommended the council review fees set under the waterways bylaw and return to an annual fee regime. That was expected to increase revenue by 20%, or $24,000.
Registered food premise owners also face increases for registration, inspection and auditing, largely as a result of extra work required under the new Food Act 2014, introduced on March 1.
However, those with residential flats may get some rating relief.
Mr Burns said there was a ‘‘clear inequity'' between rates for visitor accommodation providers and those with a residential flat.
He proposed a differential rate be introduced for the new category, dwelling plus residential flat, reducing the rates by about 20%, making it slightly less than the amount paid by those registered as a short-term homestay.
A report to the council next month will discuss proposed increases to the cost of ‘‘most'' resource consent applications.
If agreed, the council will include all the proposed changes in its consultation on the 2016-17 annual plan.
