Anyone with an on-site sewage management system in the area will be charged a $35 registration fee per system by council under state law.

Council general manager Shane Burns said the fees were a necessity. 

“There’s a legislative requirement for council to undertake that work and this is to offset that cost,” he said. Council has so far notified 700 people of the charge and has another 1500 to go.

Mr Burns said residents had to have their tanks inspected within five years time.

Uralla residents with one tank could face almost $130 since  council will charge just under $100 for inspection as well.

Mayor of Uralla Mick Pearce said council was about one third of the way through sending out notifications to affected residents. 

Cr Pearce said even if the move is not popular it has to be done.

“People will be annoyed but unfortunately that’s part of our requirements as a council so we’ll have to deal with those [complaints] as they come up,” he said.

Residents in Bundarra are among those Uralla residents who have already been notified of the charges. 

There are about 1600 on-site sewer management system in the Uralla Local Government Area. 

Those who fail to register can receive a penalty infringement notice.