The NSW community is being called on by the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE) and the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) to have its say on local infrastructure reforms set to have an impact across the whole State.
Announcing the release of DPIE’s proposed new framework for State infrastructure contributions, Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Rob Stokes said the reforms aimed to build a simple, clear and consistent infrastructure contributions system.
Tribunal Member of IPART, Deborah Cope said IPART’s Review of the essential works list, nexus, efficient design and benchmark costs for local infrastructure Draft Report would provide advice to Government on aspects of the local infrastructure contributions system.
“The current system isn’t clear on what infrastructure is being delivered, whether it is being delivered for the right price, or what developers might be charged when planning to build or invest,” Ms Cope said.
“IPART’s Draft Report is designed to help Councils identify the infrastructure that is needed to support development and the costs that should be paid for by developers,” she said.
“It also outlines what information Councils should make available to their communities and developers to show how they made these decisions.”
Ms Cope said IPART had developed a principles-based framework that could apply to all developments in all areas across NSW and could respond to changes in the needs and expectations of communities over time.
She said people could have a say on IPART’s Draft Report until 26 November.
Mr Stokes said DPIE’s reform framework would give local Councils more control over planning contributions; incentivise Councils to fund infrastructure upfront; make it easier for communities to access and understand Planning Agreements; and create a separate Regional Infrastructure Contribution collected by the State Government to be applied in Greater Sydney, the Illawarra Shoalhaven, Lower Hunter and the Central Coast.
He said the proposed reforms would also require owners who benefitted from their land being rezoned to contribute towards the provision of land for local infrastructure.
The Minister said the reforms responded to the NSW Productivity Commission’s December review into infrastructure contributions.
Mr Stokes said people could have a say on DPIE’s proposed framework until 10 December.
IPART’s 79-page Draft Report can be accessed at this PS News link and DPIE’s proposed framework at this link.
