At its Council Meeting on Monday 23 June 2025, Council adopted the 2025-2026 Budget, which is made up of the Draft Four Year Delivery Program 2025-2029, Draft Operational Plan 2025-2026, Draft Statement of Revenue Policy, Draft Long-Term Financial Plan and Draft Resourcing Strategy.
The Budget outlines a strategic approach to deliver essential infrastructure, advance the city’s long-term vision, and respond to economic pressures through careful financial management.
A change in the Budget that will affect food businesses is a new annual administrative fee.
The fee helps AlburyCity recover the costs involved in administering and enforcing the Food Act 2003.
The services we provide include:
- Distributing food safety newsletters and information
- Advertising and promoting food safety initiatives
- Managing a food premises database
- Delivering training and educational materials
- Participating in food recall activities
- Liaising with solicitors, builders, shopfitters, and contractors on behalf of food operators
- Reviewing and advising on new or altered food business plans
- Improving online services for food businesses
The fee varies depending on the type of food premises and the risk-rating of the food business. The fee has been aligned with other local government areas in NSW, ensuring we are consistent and fair.
The fee for 2025/2026 (inc. GST) is detailed below:
- Franchises and Supermarkets: $650.00
- High-Risk Food Premises: $450.00
- Low-Risk Food Premises: $230.00
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What is the difference between a high-risk and low-risk food business? keyboard_arrow_right
- High-risk food businesses prepare and sell food that is:
- Ready-to-eat
- Potentially hazardous (requires temperature control)
- Not sold in the manufacturer’s original package
- Examples include restaurants, cafes, hotels (with attached restaurants), sushi bars, bakery’s, sandwich shops, takeaway food shops, corner shops doing take away cooked foods, and catering operators
- Low-risk food businesses sell food that is:
- Not ready-to-eat, or
- Not potentially hazardous, or
- Sold and served in its original packaging
- Examples include service stations (without restaurants attached), cafes not cooking food (e.g. cake/coffee type cafes), bed and breakfast premises, and motels serving packaged breakfasts only
- High-risk food businesses prepare and sell food that is:
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How are supermarkets and franchises defined? keyboard_arrow_right
- This category includes food premises that meet the criteria of fast choices (franchises of more than 20 stores in NSW, or 50 stores nationally) and any other premises that handles Potentially Hazardous Food. A supermarket is a type of franchise that retails a range of staple grocery items such as bread, milk, fruit, vegetables, meat, and packaged foods.
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How will I be charged this fee? keyboard_arrow_right
Food businesses will be issued an invoice from AlburyCity.
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How do I pay the fee? keyboard_arrow_right
Payment options will be outlined on your invoice and are expected to include:
- Online payment
- Credit or debit card
- Cash
- BPAY®
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When will I receive the invoice? keyboard_arrow_right
Invoices will be issued to food businesses in September each year.
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Is this a one-off fee? keyboard_arrow_right
No. This is an annual administration fee.
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Are there any other fees I should be aware of? keyboard_arrow_right
Yes. Inspection fees apply for visits by Authorised Officers, including re-inspections or complaint-related visits:
- High-Risk Premises: $244 (including GST)
- Low-Risk Premises: $70 (including GST)
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What if I have sold or closed my food business? keyboard_arrow_right
You must notify Council of any changes to ownership or business details. Contact Council directly to update your records.
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Do charities have to pay this fee? keyboard_arrow_right
No. Food businesses operated solely for raising funds for community or charitable purposes are exempt from the administration fee.