Peter Black believes the council is taking advantage of tradespeople who park their work vehicles on the road. Picture: CHRIS MCKEEN ~PP429969

PITTWATER Council has been accused of gouging “pointless” fees from tradesmen, with costs to be passed on the clients.

Mona Vale builder Peter Black said council fees were spiralling out of control.

“It’s just a blatant rip-off,” he said.

Additional charges came to light recently when Pittwater Council reminded some tradesmen of the requirement to submit applications before parking concrete pumps and cranes on nature strips.

The charges have upset builders, with application fees totalling $305 for pumps parked for between two and six hours.

Mr Black, a self-described “stubborn old builder”, said it was the clients who would end up paying.

“It’s not a fee we want to charge the client,” he said.

Pittwater Council general manager Mark Ferguson said the costs covered assessment of the application, a road condition assessment and the issuing of a letter of determination.

He said the fee also ensured “traffic safety and road damage minimisation”.

But Mr Black remained dismayed at the fees.

He said his dealings with the council had got “100 times worse” over his 20 years as a builder.

“They don’t charge for taxis or delivery vans,” he said.

Warringah Council charges $237 when a tradesman submits a Permit to Stand Plant on roads and footpaths.

- by work experience student Max Bree

http://manly-daily.whereilive.com.au/news/story/fees-a-blatant-rip-off/

A few years ago Denver started the same thing,sorta.They had to have a permit and street clousure.Now if one got caught without,the job shut down untill permit issued.It is a cost to the owner,contractor bears,not pumping company.It's just another gimic for revenue.

right of way permits here are $50- if iam in the know i useally handle it but when a customer wants me to violate rules of the road to save money iam going to scrap with them.

300 for 6 hrs is a grab, we pay 50 for day permit issuance. If it's not to busy a road. More for downtown core roads of course. Thats West Vanc, Canada.