Council wants approval for Stewart Island levy

Paying a visit to Stewart Island may cost even more next year after the Southland District Council agreed to seek the Government's approval to impose a visitor levy.

It is proposed the $5 levy, to be paid by visitors to the island, would fund amenity and infrastructure costs.

Senior policy analyst Wayne Heerdegen said the levy would help keep the island in a pristine state.

"It is like paying rent at a flat and having a friend bring hundreds of people to your place every week for a party. Those people make a mess of your house and then leave you with a big mess to clean up," he said.

Only visitors would have to pay the levy, with the island's ratepayers excluded.

Tourism Industry Association advocacy manager Geoff Ensor said Stewart Island faced unique challenges in hosting visitors.

A $5 levy was unlikely to deter people, he said.

"We understand that the levy has been thoroughly discussed by the Stewart Island community and is widely supported. Our view is that this is a community solution to a community problem but we want to be sure the funds raised will be exclusively used to enhance the island's tourism industry," Mr Ensor said.

A subcommittee would be created to allocate the funds raised by the levy. It would include representatives from the transport and tourism industries to ensure the funds were used productively, Mr Heerdegen said.

The council predicted the tax could raise $160,000 annually, saving residents an extra $240 in rates.

The Government's decision should be made by June.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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stu   #3   01:43 pm Oct 03 2009

It would help though to have a Jafa tax and make all the lifestylers from Auckland who've moved to the island pay extra.

supporter   #2   08:18 am Oct 03 2009

Having visited Stewart Island I am in full support of the levy. In response to the first "comment" about "inflated prices" , unlike on the mainland, people on Stewart Island do not have the luxury of cheap hydro-electic power, the island is powered by diesel generators therefore they have the added cost of transport for all their fuel. Another luxury the mainlanders have is landfills, all rubbish on Stewart Island has to be shipped to Bluff at a huge cost. Visitors to the island generate rubbish and as this rubbish has to removed then a small levy is a fair thing to ask for. It is no different from a council charging you for YOUR rubbish collection.

kevin   #1   03:59 pm Oct 02 2009

they already receive a levy with the iflated prices the visitors pay in going to the island

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