Mt Maunganui street cafes face forking out for pavement patrons

Mount Maunganui cafes, bars and restaurants are facing an unexpected alfresco cost — with Tauranga City Council proposing to dish up an annual fee on businesses for having tables and chairs on the footpath.

The proposed fee would be $100 per square metre of footpath used from July 1.

Some businesses have labelled the added charge "unfair", particularly during tough economic times.

"In terms of council speak that's a drop in a bucket in terms of any significant amount of money than can be invested into anything meaningful," Mount Business Association’s Harris Williams told 1News.

"It's coming at a time where the economic climate hasn't yet recovered, it's actually really tough out there."

The fees would apply to businesses north of State Highway 2 in Mount Maunganui, and from 11th Avenue to Tauranga city centre.

In a statement, Tauranga City Council said there would be a 50% discount for the first year to support businesses during the transition, meaning they would pay less than a dollar a week per square metre.

The council also said there had been "minimal plans for upgrades" to the Mount main street.

Harris Williams said: "We haven't seen any real significant investment ... for over 25 years. Anyone has to walk around and see our pavements probably haven't been updated in a while, they definitely aren't primed for amenity and outdoor dining."

License-to-occupy fees were standard practice in other locations, with prices varying from region to region.

However, Marisa Bidois from Restaurant Association said: "It doesn't take into account the contribution that hospitality businesses make to the cityscape.

"We have seen councils around the country starting to review their fees… we realise councils need to recuperate funds in order to operate but we don't think a pure cost recovery model works in every instance.”

Theh Tauranga City Council annual plan consultation would run until April 28.