Council reveals which fees will likely increase in new financial year

The South Burnett council will vote on Wednesday on a raft of new fees and charges for the new financial year, with at least one service doubling in cost, and another generating angst in the flying fraternity.

The South Burnett Regional Council have published the recommended register of fees and charges for the 2025/26 financial year in the June council meeting agenda.

Fees for owning dangerous dogs, permits to keep excess animals and the cost of holding a weekend funeral are some of the big council fee hikes coming in the new financial year.

The South Burnett Regional Council has published the recommended register of fees and charges for the 2025/26 financial year in the June council meeting agenda.

The average increase was about 2.5 per cent, with about 20 fees and charges increasing by more than 5 per cent.

Some of the biggest increases included the cost to apply for a permit to keep excess animals (ie more than three dogs), which doubled from $50 to $100, the cost for council services outside of business hours for a funeral rose from $1000 to $1500, and the bond to hire Ringfield House or Wondai Town Hall rose 20 per cent.

A significant portion of the collective fees and charges in the South Burnett have remained the same, with no increases and reductions on cost. This included hiring villas and powered camp sites at council run facilities such as Boondooma Dam (pictured) and swimming pool compliance inspections and reports. Photo: Marguerite Cuddihy

The biggest recommended increase was the security bond for relocated buildings, listed as a regulatory fee, which rose from $20,200 to $40,000, almost doubling in cost.

A significant portion of the collective fees and charges have remained the same, with no increases and reductions on cost.

This included hiring villas and powered camp sites at council run facilities such as Boondooma Dam Caravan and Recreation Park and swimming pool compliance inspections and reports.

According to the council agenda, there are also a range of new fees and charges coming in the new financial year.

Owners of restricted, dangerous or menacing dogs will be expected to pay a yearly inspection fee of $385 and campers at Bjelke-Petersen Dam Caravan and Recreation Park will need to pay $20 to replace a lost key.

The council has also proposed a range of new fees related to landing at Kingaroy airport.

A separate motion on the agenda stated:

“Council has advised users of the Kingaroy Aerodrome of its intention to introduce landing fees for gliders and general aviation”.

The motion said these fees were proposed in consultation with stakeholders at the Kingaroy Aerodrome to “to offset the services and operational expenses”.

The proposed costs included an annual fee of $2930 charged to the Kingaroy Soaring Club, a flat fee of $1500 for major events, and annual parking fees for gliders of $350 per tonne of MTOW.

The council has received several letters objecting to the new proposed fees, with critics voicing concerns over the lack of consultation, saying such fees would result in a decline in airport usage and did not benefit the community in the long run.

The council has proposed a range of new fees related to landing at Kingaroy airport, including an annual fee of $2930 charged to the Kingaroy Soaring Club, a flat fee of $1500 for major events, and annual parking fees for gliders of $350 per tonne of MTOW.

One person said Gympie airport aviation activity “suffered considerably” after they implemented a similar fee scheme.

“Gympie has suffered considerably from the implementation of the fee structure to the extent that aviation activity has reduced by up to 40% and the aerodrome has become less attractive for aviation business, both of which we do not want to see happen at Kingaroy,” they wrote.

Another said the fees felt particularly egregious due to the effort put into maintaining the airport grounds by regularly users.

“The proposed landing charges is a highly emotive issue for a number of reasons,” they wrote.

“For twenty plus years the user group maintained the airport performing the following tasks: Airside mowing, airport inspections as qualified ARO’s, PAL system maintenance, repair and maintenance on the radio navigation aid now extinct.”

“During this time we were given repeated verbal assurances by all levels of council that landing charges would never be imposed.”

The council will vote on the implementation of these new fees at its meeting on Wednesday.

Originally published as Council reveals which fees will likely increase in new financial year