The Mackenzie District Council has issued a warning to would-be visitor accommodation providers ''so they don't get a fright'' when they apply for a building consent and learn a financial contribution is required.
Mackenzie District Council regulations group manager Karina Morrow said rules for those adding residential units to their properties were not new, but ''this sort of development is becoming more and more regular''.
The about ''$10,000 upwards'' for financial contributions had the potential to catch people off guard at the planning stage, she said.
''It is quite a big cost and it's not new at all - it's just a reminder because people might not be aware. They've got an idea in their head and think 'Oh, this might be a good thing to do'. And they don't realise ... there are costs that they may not be immediately aware of.''
In a statement on Monday, the council said the amount required for financial contributions depended on the number of people being accommodated and applied not only to the construction of stand-alone units and houses but also self-contained units within an existing house.
The contribution was put towards the cost of providing services - including wastewater and stormwater services - and public spaces.
