Developers, including people planning to build a house in the Byron Shire, will be interested in the draft Development Servicing Plan currently on public exhibition.
The draft plan sets out proposed new costs, or charges, for water and sewerage connections that are included in the suites of fees associated with lodging a development application.
The charges are designed to ensure developers contribute to the cost of infrastructure that is needed to support growth in the Byron Shire.
The charges allow Council to plan and fund future water and sewerage services including the replacement of reservoirs and upgrades to sewage treatment plants.
The NSW Government requires all councils to have a Development Servicing Plan.
The 2026 Development Service Plan will replace the 2016 plan and considers projected population growth.
"Council has an obligation to residents, visitors, the environment and the government to ensure that we are able to provide a safe, healthy water supply when the tap is turned on and hygienic and efficient sewerage infrastructure when the toilet is flushed," Dean Baulch, Manager Utilities, said.
"This Development Servicing Plan allows Council to do this in an equitable way where developers are contributing to the costs associated with growth and development, reducing the burden on ratepayers," Mr Baulch said.
An Equivalent Tenement (ET) is a simple measure of how much demand a development places on the water and sewerage systems, compared to an average sized house (equal to 1 ET). The bigger a development is, the more ETs it is likely to require.
Water supply (per average sized house)
- Mullumbimby - $9,721 (This reflects Council's most recent decision to pursue a "Hybrid" water supply from Rous and the Lavertys Gap weir at Wilsons Creek.)
- Rest of Byron Shire - $2,139
Sewerage (per average sized house)
- All areas served by Council's sewerage systems - $14,375
