Waipa¯ seeks fees feedback

Waipa¯ District Council has called on residents to get involved and submit comments on its draft proposal of fees and charges for 2022/23.

The four-week consultation period opened this week, with submissions able to be lodged until 5pm, Friday, April 8.

Submissions can be made online, via email or through a hard copy submission delivered to council offices or libraries in Cambridge and Te Awamutu.

“For 2022/23, many of the fees remain unchanged, and only a very few have increased by more than the current rate of inflation,” said Waipa¯ strategy manager Kirsty Downey.

These are in the areas of building control, cemeteries, and kerbside recycling. New fees are also proposed to be introduced for dog control, building control and utility access requirements.

Hearings and deliberations are scheduled to take place on May 3, with the council meeting to adopt the new fees and charges to be held on May 31. They are applicable for the 2022/23 year, starting on July 1.

Fees and charges are reviewed and updated annually as part of the Annual Plan and Long Term Plan processes.

When setting fees and charges, a number of factors are considered including indirect benefit to the community, distribution of benefits, and ability to pay, said Kirsty.

More information is available on the council website — waipadc.govt.nz/ haveyoursayzherald.co.nz