The matter came up as the council discussed its new policy to address non-rates receivable debt.
Council chairman Peter Haddock said the combined whitebait debt more than three months old owed by stand holders was unacceptable.
"We’re not a benevolent society here," Cr Haddock said on March 5.
At the end of January, the council had $1.55 million in outstanding debt more than 30 days old.
Of that, whitebait stand holders collectively owed $44,076 of unpaid fees for 90 days or more.
This is despite whitebait stands on West Coast rivers being in hot demand and lucrative for holders in good years.
Individuals can in a good season earn tens of thousands of dollars from selling the delicacy.
Many stands have been held inter-generationally, and their right to keep it a recreational activity has been fiercely defended in recent years.
The council charges West Coast whitebait stand holders an annual resource consent monitoring fee of $201.25.
The fees are usually invoiced in July each year.
Whitebait stand consent holders must also pay an annual administration charge of $115 for each individual whitebait stand consent file held.
Cr Brett Cummings said whitebait and also gravel-take debtors should have their privileges withheld.
"If they are not paying their gravel or whitebait fees, they should be removed."
Chief executive Darryl Lew said the council was legally unable to withdraw a consent on the basis of non-payment.
However, acting consents and compliance manager Chris Barnes said it could for whitebait stand holders.
Cr Peter Ewen said the overall $1.55m debt owed to the council affected the financial bottom line.
He wanted to know how much debt was written off annually.
"All this reflects on our rates strike at the end of the year — our bottom line," he said.
Other overdue debtors, by more than three months at the end of January, included $91,846 for sundry debtors, $133,856 for work order debt and overdue gravel compliance monitoring fees of $66,735.
- LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
By Brendon McMahon
