South Burnett dog owners outraged over increased registration fees

Rural residential and rural dog owners of the South Burnett have been left with a bad taste in their mouths after finding out they are facing a massive 367 per cent hike in their annual dog registration fee.

Rural residential and rural dog owners of the South Burnett have been left with a bad taste in their mouths.

Rural residential and rural dog owners of the South Burnett have been left with a bad taste in their mouths after finding out they are facing a massive 367 per cent hike in their annual dog registration fee.

The South Burnett Regional Council issued heavily increased dog registration renewal fees for 2022-2023 on Friday, December 1, with payment due by January 20, 2023, and those impacted by the increases have been left reeling.

Rural South Burnett residents who were paying an annual fee of $28 will be hit with an increase to $79.50 this year, with a further increase to $131 in November 2023, bringing the fees paid by town people and rural people in line.

All dog owners in the South Burnett will pay the same annual fee by 2024.

The decision to equalise dog registration fees, between rural and CBD residents, was made on June 17 at a council budget meeting.

To compare, the neighbouring Gympie Regional Council does not charge rural dog owners any fee at all; classifying rural dogs as “working” dogs.

Residents living in designated areas, town and villages in the South Burnett will be charged an annual fee of $171 to register an entire (un-desexed), unchipped dog, while a desexed dog will cost only $33 a year to register.

Prior to the newly increased fees, residents living in rural residential areas were charged only $28 per year for an entire dog and $10 for a desexed dog.

The meeting heard that the difference in fees was unfair on town dwellers and left council with an annual loss of more than $100,000 per year on missed dog registration fees from rural owners.

Council staff recommended expanding the ‘defined area’ from towns and villages to include rural residential areas, at the meeting.

South Burnett Regional Council CEO Mark Pitt along side Deputy Mayor Gavin Jones and Mayor Brett Otto. Photo: Laura Blackmore

They also recommended removing the existing discount for microchipped dogs as microchipping pet dogs was now a legal requirement.

Many residents have reacted with shock and confusion to the news, and taken to social media to express their concern.

South Burnett resident Jan Woods said she was 32km from Kingaroy and in the 15 years living there had never seen an animal control officer.

“The rego tag is for the dog’s life, so why the heck are they needing to put the fee up?” she posted.

“What upsets me is we are not even given the courtesy of knowing about the increase in advance.”

Dog owner Rebbecka Rowett labelled the move an “absolute disgrace” and described the council as “out of touch”.

“Absolute disgrace - there is no justification of a 300 per cent rise. Out of touch, a council with misplaced priorities.”

Nanango resident Cath Powers said she would expect a personal letter or an email from the council to explain the increase.

A council spokesman said the establishment of the category and the resultant fee structure was adopted after much deliberation.

“The intent of this category and associated fee structure was to provide a level of equity between urban and rural residential areas,” they said.

“Residents are also reminded of the pensioner discount which can also apply to dog registrations.”