Jetty fees decided today
STEWART ISLAND
A DECISION on how commercial jetty use will be charged on Stewart Island is set to be made following three years of deliberation.
While the Southland District Council will not determine appropriate funding sources for jetties or decide the amount charged for nonrecreational use, it will come up with a way to calculate a fee at its meeting today.
At present, commercial users of the jetties hold a licence from the council to use the jetties for the embarking and disembarking of passengers and the loading and unloading of goods.
The annual licence fee is $1350. In 2017, the Stewart Island/ Rakiura jetties subcommittee suggested a new charging regime for nonrecreational jetty use, based on patronage, might be more appropriate.
Council staff then sought feedback from nonrecreational users, consulted the RakiuraStewart Island Community Board and a jetties advisory group, and held workshops within the council to determine the best way forward.
The three options the council will consider are a base fee for each vessel and an additional charge based on passenger numbers, a base fee and an additional charge based on vessel tonnage, or keeping the current method, whereby each vessel is charged a licence fee annually.
While the first option was preferred by the Stewart Island/ Rakiura board and subcommittee, the council had recommended the second option.
Last month, it endorsed a draft policy for consultation which proposed to generate 60% to 70% of operational costs for jetties from fees and charges — largely made up of the fee paid by operators.
The remaining funding would come from the Stewart Island Community Board rate, the general rate and other sources such as the Stewart Island Visitor Levy.
Coastal permits for the jetties do not allow the council to charge nonrecreational jetty users, which means the licence fee does not comply with the permits.
The council will need to seek amendments to the permits to enable a charging regime.
The charging method decided on this week will be included in the longterm plan 202131.
Other matters set to be discussed at the meeting included a request for council involvement in Predator Free Southland, a plan change for Dark Skies and the Winton Burner Incentive.