Last April, the Government announced that minor residential units up to 70sqm could be built without consent.
At the time, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk said consents would not be necessary if the granny flat had a simple design and met the building code.
Construction had to be done by authorised builders and homeowners needed to notify their councils at the beginning and end of construction, he said.
The 3% proposal means the weekday adult burial charge at council-run cemeteries increases from $985 to $1015.
Councillor Julie Herewini said she did not support it.
“Even dying is incredibly expensive these days,” she said. “I would suggest we don’t do that.”
For swimming pool fees, Williamson said there had already been 50c increases to entry fees at Splash Centre and Whanganui East Pool over the past two years.
“Obviously, 3% is a difficult number for anything that requires cash handling so we won’t propose to change it again this year.”
Fees at the Whanganui Resource Recovery Centre would also remain the same, she said.
Herewini said there had been public pushback on spectator fees at aquatics facilities.
It costs $1 per person at Splash Centre and $1.50 per person at the Whanganui East pool.
“This is your opportunity to say whether you should have to pay to go and support your tamariki,” she said.
Public consultation on the proposed fee increases runs until May 3, alongside the consultation on the council’s annual plan.
The council is also increasing dog registration fees for 2026-27, with the base fee moving from $142 to $147.
For working dogs, the base registration fee will rise from $50 to $52.
Under the Dog Control Act, councils can set dog registration fees and pound fees by resolution, with no consultation required.
Mike Tweed is a multimedia journalist at the Whanganui Chronicle. Since starting in March 2020, he has dabbled in everything from sport to music. At present his focus is local government, primarily Whanganui District Council.
