Mrs Kath Cheers said she did not think such a large amount was a reasonable contribution just so the shop could install two cookers to meet community demands for cooked fish.

The business has been operating on the site for seven years and according to Mrs Cheers, has complied with all council requests in that time.

"Tourists are crying out for this facility which is badly wanted in Pacific Palms, but I would have to sell a terrible lot of chips to recoup $26,790.

"All I want is two little cookers. We are only a little shop, we're not Doyles."

Ms Cheers said she had already paid for three car parks and a disability car park and had also provided parking for her staff at the rear of her property.

She said that if she had to pay anything, she felt a contribution of $5,000 would be reasonable.

At a previous meeting, the council was told that had the business included the cookers in its original development application, it would not have found itself in the current situation.

The council has estimated the cost of reconstructing The Lakes Way and Charlotte Bay Street, relocating water and sewer mains and power poles at $790,000.

The council will meet the $230,000 cost of reconstructing The Lakes Way central carriageway and relocating the sewer main, but has determined that the remaining $560,000 should be shared between 12 properties along the street.

Forster Pacific Real Estate, which sought approval to open an office in the street in what is currently a residence, also appealed against the $28,430 council levy.

Its proprietor, Mark Currie, said the amount the council was seeking was exorbitant.

The councillors were evenly divided on the issue, leaving the mayor's casting vote to reduce the amount Mrs Cheers has to pay to $5,000 and Mr Currie's levy to $15,000.