Fees and costs for statutory land management applications
Learn about the processing fees and costs for statutory land management applications.

We recover the costs to process your application, regardless of whether it is approved or declined. This includes any third-party costs related to processing the application, such as gazette notices, survey fees, and legal fees.

We calculate processing fees based on the time it takes to process your application using our fixed hourly staff charge-out rates. Our staff time is charged at rates ranging from $186–$301 plus GST per hour, depending on the staff member’s role.

Most application types have minimum fees, so you know what to expect before you apply.

Processing fees may be higher than the minimum fee if your application is more complex. If we think your processing fee will exceed the minimum fee, or if there is no minimum fee indicated below, we will provide you a non-binding fee estimate before we start work.

We will usually invoice your fee after a decision has been made on your application. In some cases we will issue interim invoices during the processing of your application.

If your withdraw your application, you will be charged for any work already done.

Application processing fees

Application type

Minimum fee (plus GST)

Fee notes

Land Status Check

$460 – up to 2.5 hours work

$925 – 2.5–5 hours work

$1,850 – 5–10 hours work

Refer to note 1

Acquisition of Public Conservation Land

$2,130

Refer to note 2

Exchange of Public Conservation Land

$1,950

Refer to note 2

Public Works Act Consent

$1,520

Refer to note 3

Reserves Act Consent

$1,700

Refer to note 3

Waiver or reduction of a marginal strip

$2,910

Refer to note 3

Appointing an Administering Body (control and management of a reserve)

$2,730

N/A

Disposal of Public Conservation Land

Actual time and costs apply

N/A

Fee notes

  1. The Land Status Check fee will be deducted where relevant from any subsequent processing application.
  2. Fees for acquisition and exchange processes are charged to the point of a decision to carry out the acquisition or exchange. An estimate will be provided for remainder of work to be completed, for example surveys, valuations, subdivision requirements etc.
  3. You must submit two forms: an Application Form and the relevant consent form; Application Form 1a Public Works Act Consents or Application Form 1b Reserves Act Consents.

Third-party costs

Application processing fees do not include third-party costs such as survey fees. We will charge these as an additional fee, where this applies. We will notify you of any third-party costs before work begins.