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Proposed administration fee for food businesses

We have released our draft budget, outlining a strategic approach to deliver essential infrastructure, advance the city’s long-term vision, and respond to economic pressures through careful financial management.

The community is invited to provide feedback on the draft budget, which is made up by the Draft Four Year Delivery Program 2025-2029, Draft Operational Plan 2025-2026 and Draft Long-Term Financial Plan.

As a food business operating in Albury, your feedback is vital to ensure we are delivering the services that matter to you and your business.

A change in the draft budget that will affect food businesses is a proposed annual administrative fee.

The fee helps AlburyCity recover some of the costs involved in administering and enforcing the Food Act 2003.

These activities 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 will vary 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 Premise: $450.00
  • Low-Risk Food Premises: $230.00

Have your say on the draft budget by visiting the Engaging Albury website before Friday 30 May.

  • 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
  • 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.
  • How will I be charged this fee? keyboard_arrow_right

    Food businesses will be issued an invoice from AlburyCity.

  • 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®
  • When will I receive the invoice? keyboard_arrow_right

    Invoices will be issued to food businesses in September each year.