With the adoption of the Yarra Ranges Council budget, 38 per cent of the council’s fees and charges will increase at a similar rate to the 3.0 per cent rate cap, with 12 per cent of fees and charges having no increase or being decreased and four per cent being discontinued due to closures or changed services.
30 per cent of fees and charges have had ‘market corrections’ applied and some new fees have been introduced to align with the capacity to pay model at Customer Links facilities.
One of the big changes is a simplification of waste management charges, with the eight different options for residential and non-residential properties and additional bin charges being replaced by standard fees:
The minimum base charge (which covers hard waste and bundled branches collection, community bin services and illegally dumped rubbish among other things) for non-residential properties is $48 and $128 for residential properties
An 80L general waste bin service will be $126, $155 for 120L and $242 for 240L
An 80L recycling bin service is $51, 120L is $55 and 240L is $69
An 80L FOGO bin service is $142, 120L is $157 and 240L is $201
For example, in comparison to 2024/2025, a residential landowner will now pay $553 for a 240L FOGO bin, 240L recycling bin, 120L rubbish bin with base charge included instead of $507 for the equivalent service in the last financial year, representing a price increase (just over 9 per cent) but improving clarity and flexibility for landowners to pick a service that suits them and contributing to the council’s other waste management services.
Here are other fees and charges that have significantly increased or decreased (over 10 per cent change) or been introduced/discontinued this year:
Getting written advice on the confirmation of a general permit requirement will rise from $172.82 to $205 (18.62 per cent increase)
Getting copies of residential permits and plans will rise from $173 to $220 (27.17 per cent)
Fees for permits for places of public entertainment (including two inspections) will rise significantly; up to $1,110 from $615.22 (80.42 per cent) for 500m squaed – 1,000m squared spaces, up to $2200 from $1231.50 (78.64 per cent) for 1,001m squared – 5,000m squared spaces, up to $3330 from $1837.77 (80.22 per cent) for 5,001m squared – 10,000m squared spaces, up to $4440 from $2464.04 (80.19 per cent) for spaces greater than 10,001m squared and additional inspections (per inspection) costing $260, up from $202.07 (28.67 per cent)
Registration fees for non-desexed dogs have risen to $192 from $165 (16.36 per cent) while those whose owners with a pensioner concession have had their fees rise to $69 from $58 (18.97 per cent). Dog registrations with reduced fees have risen from $55 to $64 (16.36 per cent), except for dogs kept by foster carers whose rates only rose by three per cent and those with a pensioner concession whose fees climbed from $19 to $23 (21.05 per cent)
Dangerous dogs as guard dogs for non-residential premises and those who have undergone protective training have decreased significantly, down to $192 from $320 (40 per cent) and now even lower than this time last year, when the fee was $261
Owners of non-desexed cats (with a vet exemption) have had their fees rise from $150 to $180 (20 per cent) and from $52 to $62 (19.23 per cent) for those with a pensioner concession
Reduced fees for desexed cats, cats over 10 years old, registered breeding cats and cats and owners registered with the same applicable organisation have had their fees rise from $50 to $60 (20 per cent) and those with pensioner concessions have risen from $16 to $22 (25 per cent).
Impound and release fees for aheavy haulage tow/skip bins/bulk waste/shipping containers or other large items have increased from $800 to $880 (10 per cent), but the fee for vehicles has decreased to $693 from $800 (13.38 per cent)
Single admission fees at the pool facilities in Healesville, Monbulk, Lilydale, Olinda and Belgrave for concession card holders, children, pensioners and school groups (per head) have all risen by 50 cents
There have been changes to environmental stewardship charges, with only General Habitat Units (up from $148,500 to $195,800, 31.85 per cent) and Species Habitat Units (up from $160,600 to $195,800, 21.92 per cent) remaining.
The monthly $121 charge for horse agistment at the Birdsland facility has been dropped
Some fees for services at the Rolling Hills Early Years Centre have increased: one-hourly and two-hourly use of the Community Playgroup Room 1 and 2 are up from S7 to $8 (14.29 per cent)
Flu immunisation services for private businesses are up to $30 from $27 (11.11 per cent)
The after-hours and weekends additional rates, exhibition-space-gallery hourly rate and Operations Officer hourly fees at Community Links have been discontinued
The licensee rates for use of the Healesville Hub at the Healesville Community Link have been discontinued
The hourly rate for commercial/private use of the Healesville Community Link’s Multipurpose room has risen from $5 to $46.50 (830 per cent), while a half-day rate of $139.50 and full-day rate of $279 have been introduced
New commercial/private, organisation and community rates for use of the Healesville Community Link’s kitchen and meeting rooms have also been introduced, with full day, half day and hourly rates available
Fees for use of some facilities, such as the data projector and screen or provision of tea, coffee and biscuits at the Monbulk Living and Learning Centre have been discontinued
Hourly, half day and full day rates for commercial/private use of the Upper Yarra Family Centre meeting rooms have all been reduced by around 10 per cent, fees for use of the community kitchen and maternal child health have been scrapped and new fees have been introduced for use of the large meeting rooms (rooms four and six) and meeting room eight
Fees for the Youth Holiday Program and Freeza program have been scrapped.
