The Queenstown Lakes District Council's table and chair permit fee review came before the council's finance and corporate committee yesterday with the view being to extend the one-year licences.
More than 40 restaurants, cafes and, most recently, bars which serve food, hold permits in the region and are required to renew their licences annually.
It allows outdoor dining and use by patrons until 10pm, whereupon dining is disallowed and furniture must be removed by the close of business.
The rates at present range from $100 a square metre in Queenstown Mall, to $50 on the Wanaka waterfront and $35 in Arrowtown.
However, the review proposes to increase the rental rates "to more reflect the specific areas and benefits to businesses as well as benefits to the community in rental returns".
A five-year system would have price tiers ranging from $185 a sq m in the Queenstown Mall and Beach St, $155 for Lower Beach St, Rees St, Shotover St, Steamer Wharf and the Queenstown foreshore and $125 for all other downtown Queenstown locations.
Arrowtown, Frankton and Wanaka would cost $90 a sq m and $35 for Glenorchy, Kingston and Cardrona.
The five-year licences would not be transferable if tenants in licensed premises changed and would be cancelled if the tenant went out of business.
Committee chairman John Mann said the increases would be substantial, but worth it in the end.
"There is a significant advantage in this. To have security of tenure is of tremendous value."
"I would most certainly support this, even though it's an extraordinarily big bill," Cr Mann said.
The committee approved the table and chair licence fee for consultation purposes and will now contact licence holders to invite them to make a submission.
A hearings panel, comprising Crs Mann, Mel Gazzard and Leigh Overton, will consider submissions and report to the next finance and corporate committee meeting.
