A ONE-off reduction of development fees for worker accommodation in Pozieres could set a precedent for the future, according to Southern Downs councillors.

A request by a Pozieres farming family to reduce their $10,575 worth of charges on six worker accommodation developments has been approved by the council.

The charges for the Rizzato family have been reduced by 50%.

The reduction in charges could set a precedent for future developments, with councillors looking at ways to make worker accommodation safer.

Cr Vic Pennisi said he supported the reduction as a way of encouraging property owners to provide worker accommodation legally.

"At some stage we need to bite the bullet and do something strong and concrete to encourage farmers to provide something on their land," he said.

"One of the ways to deal with this issue of worker accommodation is to make it affordable for producers to provide it on their own land."

Cr Neil Meiklejohn agreed, stating that he had sympathy with the requests.

"In my mind they went out of the way to get approval," he said.

"We initiated this process - I'd hate to have a disincentive or barrier for property owners who want to do the right thing."

The Rizzato family's developments are at properties on Andreatta La, Amiens Rd, Donnellys Castle Rd and Bertinazzi La.

A report to the council recommended councillors keep the fees as they were.

"It is considered reasonable that the full fees are paid for each of the applications," the report stated. The full fees were charged because each application was being considered individually and required public notification.

CEO David Keenan warned councillors that any reduction in forecast revenue would have consequences.

"This decision means there will be another hit to forecast revenue," he said.

"Every time we make a cut, we have to cut from somewhere else."