Lismore has been so popular as a film location, the council has made changes to its fee structure

Lismore has been so popular as a film location, the council has made changes to its fee structure.

Melissa McCarthy was in Lismore recently to film Netflix series God’s Favorite Idiot. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for MTV)

Lismore has proven so popular with film scouts the council has amended its fees and charges list to make it easier to tally the cost of filming in the region.

Recently, actor Melissa McCarthy created a buzz around town when her latest venture filmed Netflix’s God’s Favorite Idiot at various locations in Lismore.

Crews rolled into the Lismore CBD to film a new Netflix series with Melissa McCarthy.

As well as that production, there had been such an increase in calls about filming in the area, Lismore City Council decided create a new category called “Filming Applications”, placing all fees and charges that could apply to film production in one place.

While the need for a permit to film and payment of relevant charges wasn’t new, it was interesting to see what it cost.

A filming application fee of $274 applied across the board, with additional charges added, depending on the scale of the production.

The grander the scale of filming, the greater the impact on the community, the higher the fees – ranging from no fee to $550 to film on public land.

Small scale filming on public land using less than 10 crew and not impacting businesses, roads or the public safety, was deemed ultra low impact and had no extra fees imposed.

However a production involving more than 50 crew, across more than four locations, deemed to have a significant impact on the community, would attract an extra $500 fee.

Other fees applied when public roads, footpaths and carparks were impacted, as well as when traffic control was needed.

Filming on private land attracted charges when parking plans were required, and using the council venues also attracted additional charges.

Being late with an application requiring urgent approval would cost $274, as would any revision of an application.

A bond would be negotiated between the council and the filmmaker to mitigate the risk of council property being damaged.

In excess of $10,000 could be required for a production causing “significant disturbance to reserves with major infrastructure requirements and long term occupation”.

While there are some hefty sums being thrown about, it was a drop in the ocean for big budget productions, and a welcome income stream for the council.