Council moves to unify development fees

Sunshine Coast Council has moved to unify the fees and charges for development applications lodged across the Coast, to help bring equity to the region.

At today’s special budget meeting, council agreed to a single set of fees for material change of use, reconfiguration of lots and operational works applications, and for other miscellaneous fees and business services.

This means that a person who lodges a development application in the north will now pay the same as a person lodging a similar development application in the south of the region.

It has also resulted in a much simpler fee structure for applicants to follow, with a reduction in the total number of fees from 870 to 190.

Prospective applicants will also no longer need to use three separate fee schedules.

Council’s Development Assessment Systems and Processes Manager, Paul Lucy, said that the standardisation of fees is an important step towards bringing a single entity approach to development assessment.

“Previously there were a wide range of fees for development applications due to the three planning schemes,” Mr Lucy said.

“The three separate schemes still exist but by grouping similar application types together, council was able to come up with a single fee structure.

“This move allows for consistency across the Coast, making it fairer and simpler for people when they lodge these types of applications, no matter which planning scheme or where they lodge it.”

Council also endorsed fees for plumbing and building services.

The recommendation to adopt a single fee structure will be considered at the 2010/2011 Budget on Tuesday 29 June 2010 at 9am.

Material change of use applications can include detached houses, multi-dwellings, home based businesses, office space or shops.

Reconfiguration of lots applications includes boundary realignment and sub-division of land.

Operational works applications include the work that is required for the construction to take place.