They estimate the cost of installing the much larger grease traps is between $10,000 and $15,000.

Council’s Director of Corporate Services, Peter Wilson said businesses were required to install grease traps to ensure fat and grease did not enter the sewer network, causing major blockages.

“The size and type of grease traps are set out in the State Government regulations and guidelines,” Mr Wilson said. “The Liquid Trade Waste Policy adopted in 2011 and the new trade waste charges adopted in 2011/12 are being implemented in consultation with business operators.”

He said the Policy and Trade Waste charges were based on State Government guidelines “and therefore our pricing structures are consistent with other Councils across the State. However it should be noted that our charges are currently lower than neighbouring councils”.

Robert Seres, owner of the Gelato Bar, said the requirement to install grease traps within the next year, at a cost of some $10,000 to15,000, was a completely unreasonable impost on local businesses in the hospitality industry.

“If Bellingen Council insists on pushing ahead with this, it has the potential to decimate the hospitality industry in the area,” Mr Seres said.

“Every café and eatery in Bellingen is struggling. Two closed just in the last month, I believe the looming expenditure for a grease trap was a factor,” he said.

“Although I believe the initiative comes from the State Government, this demand does not appear to be being imposed on businesses in other regional areas of NSW. Bellingen Council is out of touch with the realities of running a small business in rural and regional Australia.”

Mr Seres said: “I understand that Council has to ensure that waste water from businesses is dealt with responsibly. However, the cost of this measure simply cannot be borne by the small hospitality retailers of Bellingen. A more reasonable way of implementing these changes must be found”.

“These measures could reasonably be set as a condition for new businesses, but is an intolerable imposition on existing businesses struggling to survive,” he said.

Shane Capararo, proprietor of the Providore at North Bellingen, said costs associated with Council introducing its Trade Waste Policy on his business were still up in the air a little and won’t be known until he submitted a Trade Waste Application form, due by July 1.

“With that application I’ll need to apply for an exemption for our current 560Litre grease trap as the inspector has indicated that it should be double that size,” Mr Capararo said. “This demand is unreasonable and would cost thousands of dollars.”

“Ongoing costs are in the form of a Liquid Trade Waste Fee $178.50 and Sewer Availability Charge $570 associated with annual rates and an increase in water usage charge of approx $2.00 a Kl. Our water usage for the business is around the same as at home, this is how ridiculous it is. All these charges in our case are basically for one kitchen sink about double the size of the one at home,” he said.

Jess Sheather, who only took over Café Ambrosia in Church Street last year, said: “As the café is my first business venture, it is overwhelming enough to be in this situation without the news of having to install a grease trap and the costs involved”.

“As I’ve only recently taken over the business in September 2011, any profit that I’ve made since then was going to be used to upgrade areas and equipment in the café,” she said. “Not only will this interrupt my business, I’ll have to ‘shut-shop’ while most of the work is carried out,” Ms Sheather said.

Peter Wilson said: “If particular businesses have concerns around the processes or understanding of the pricing structure Council officers are more than happy to meet with them and to work through the issues”.

He emphasised that Council’s pricing structure reflected Government regulation and guidelines and this best practice approach was aimed at the sustainable management of our water and waste water.