Some useful development contribution brochures:

1. Infrastructure Contributions: Introduction (1.5mb pdf)
2. Residential Infrastructure Contributions: Fees (632kb  pdf) 
3. Residential Infrastructure Contributions: Building Consents (1.1mb pdf)

A development contribution or financial contribution is a fee payable towards the infrastructure that is required as the result of the growth of Tauranga City.  These fees may be payable on service connections, building consents and resource consents. 

Tauranga City has two types of Contributions:

• a Subdivision Impact Fee (SIF) which funds local infrastructure in particular parts (catchments) of the city.  This fee is generally payable on a subdivision consent to create an additional allotment /allotments but is also payable in some other circumstances 
   
• a Building Impact Fee (BIF) which funds city-wide infrastructure that all development in the city benefits from.  The fee is generally payable on a building consent or service connection for a new residential dwelling or additional business floor area but is also payable in some other circumstances.

Council's development contributions are set out in its Development Contributions Policy.  The policy applies to developments that are consented in the current financial year which runs from 1 July to 30 June. The policy is reviewed annually and is open for consultation now.  View the Draft Development Contributions Policy 2012-2013 for further information.

To view previous Development Contribution Policies you should refer to Part B of previous Tauranga City Council Annual Plans and the Long Term  Plan. 

Transitional Provisions

Council staff recently completed the calculation of the draft development and financial contributions for the 12/13 financial year based on the decisions made through the growth funding review process last year. Most of Council's contribution charges are likely to drop by a substantial amount.

Draft 2012/13 development and financial contributions compared to operative fees (9kb pdf)

As the result of this, Council realised that many developers may choose to wait until the new fees became operative rather than proceeding with upcoming developments now. This type of delay is not ideal for developers or Council. To overcome this issue Council yesterday resolved to adopt transitional provisions in regards to the application of the 12/13 development and financial contributions which will apply to development and financial contributions charged on consents approved between 20 Feb and 30 June 2012. They will work as follows:

• Contributions will be invoiced and be payable based on the current operative contribution charges
   
• In circumstances where the final 12/13 contribution charges are lower than the current charges by 5% or more the difference between the total amount paid and the total that would be payable based on the final 12/13 contribution charges will be refunded to the developer
   
• This refund will be made early in the 12/13 financial year which begins 1 July 2012
   
• Interest on these partial refunds will not be paid.

It should be stressed that the draft development and financial contribution charges are subject to change through upcoming submission and deliberation processes.

For further information on Development Contributions or Financial Contributions please contact Council's Growth Funding & Policy Advisor on 07 577 7000.