New fixed charges on resource consents will go out for public consultation this week after the Queenstown Lakes District Council endorsed a proposal it says will remove uncertainty for applicants.
After undertaking a public survey, Lakes Environmental found most were dissatisfied by the proposed price calculations because they were "more confusing than illuminating."
Applicants were confused by the complexity of the process of seeking resource consents and were also dissatisfied by the "unknown charges" they would incur.
Council regulatory and corporate general manager Roger Taylor said the council was proposing fees for the majority of consent applications would be changed to a "guaranteed price".
He said this would give applicants certainty about the costs they would incur.
The present process means applicants make a deposit to cover costs and then pay any additional charges.
The new proposal would guarantee a fixed price from the outset.
A guaranteed price would mean that some consent applicants would pay more than under the current scheme, and some less.
Mr Taylor said the benefit to all applicants was that they knew what the consent process would cost them from the outset.
An exception would be notified and subdivision consents, which can have many variables, but 95% of consents are non-notified.
After Friday's decision, submissions will be open today.
A copy of the proposal is available available at council offices, libraries and also online, where submitters can have their say.
Submissions on the proposed resource consent fees close on October 10.
