Long-awaited information on building consent fees in the city - fees the building industry claims far outstrip those of other centres - may finally help shed some light on the issue.
Since last year, industry figures have been claiming Dunedin City Council building consent fees are double or more than those in other areas.
That cost was being passed on to consumers, and made it more difficult for people to build.
The issue heated up when a member of the Registered Master Builders Federation last year compiled a comparative list of fees for residential projects around the country, that did the rounds of local builders, and suggested Dunedin fees were double.
While estimates from within the industry ranged from fees being between 20% and 200% more in Dunedin, council staff have denied that, saying the figures were misleading and inaccurate.
After councillors were lobbied, council staff were asked to research the matter and complete a report earlier this year, but that was delayed after the February earthquake in Christchurch, as building control staff were sent north to help Christchurch City Council staff.
Deputy mayor Chris Staynes said yesterday a meeting was scheduled with building control staff during departmental meetings in the latter half of next week, and he expected to receive the information both groups had been waiting for.
He said he wanted "actual costs" in relation to other areas, so the issue could be dealt with.
Registered Master Builders Federation Otago branch president Mike Fahey said yesterday his organisation wanted a "decent explanation", and some form of breakdown of the consent fee figures to answer the concerns it had.
"There is certainly a big difference between us and other cities, as we've highlighted."
After the information was available, the association wanted to meet councillors and staff to discuss the issue, Mr Fahey said.
