Increase to visitor levy supported

THERE is now public support behind a plan to increase the amount visitors are charged when travelling to Stewart Island.

Established in 2013, the Stewart Island/Rakiura visitor levy has been set at $5 per person but a proposal from Southland District Council to increase the rate to $15 in 2018 was criticised by residents and tourism operators, who wanted a strategic review of service delivery to the island.

Now, the Stewart Island/ Rakiura Community Board supports an increase.

On average, about $160,000 in levy funds was collected per year and a rise was recommended to alleviate funding constraints, a council report on the levy found.

Community board chairman Jon Spraggon believed the different approach the council took this time had paid off.

Residents were more open to the proposed increase because they had more information in order to make a decision, he said.

The council had engaged with the community, explained the reasons for the proposed rise and how the extra funding would be used in infrastructure projects within the community.

‘‘I believe the reason for being so negative last time was because the council tried to up the levy but did not have any project, plan or any reasonable explanation why they needed more money.’’

However, Mr Spraggon said the amount the levy would increase was still unknown.

‘‘They wanted, in the past, it to be $15 but I think that’s ridiculous. My personal opinion is that $10 is a reasonable increase.’’

A survey of residents showed about 60% — or 35 of the 55 respondents — were in favour of an increase.

The online survey also asked those who were in favour what level of increase they would support.

Only 46 people responded to that question — 41% of those favoured an increase of between $1 and $5, which would make the levy total between $6 and $10.

Equal numbers of respondents, or 20%, favoured an increase of between $6 and $10, an increase of between $11 and $15, and ‘‘other’’.

A draft of the proposed changes would be presented to councillors in November and the plan is hoped to be adopted by June next year.