The New South Wales Government is providing a $62.5 million funding boost to The State Voluntary Planning Agreement (SVPA) program, in order to boost the development of housing-related infrastructure.
SVPA program, established in 2010 under the then New South Wales Government, uses developer contributions to deliver state and regional infrastructure in growing areas.
The latest round of the program will support projects in 12 local government areas across the Lower Hunter, Illawarra, North West and South West Growth Areas, Wollondilly and the Central Coast.
This important infrastructure will support up to 135,000 new homes forecast to be built across these areas over the coming decade.
The $62.5 million in grants to councils and state agencies will go towards building and repairing roads, improving stormwater drainage, building new parks and improving local environments in growing communities.
Councils and state agencies from each area can now nominate projects for the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) to consider. Shortlisted projects will be assessed by an independent technical expert and reviewed by an internal DPHI review panel, with investment recommendations submitted to the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces for approval.
Since the program’s launch, over $220 million in contributions have been collected from developers and invested in 30 state and regional infrastructure projects supporting more than 70,000 new homes.
Successful projects to receive funding include an upgrade of Richmond Road in Marsden Park and acquisition of land for a new fire station in Cessnock.
Projects nominations are open between Thursday, 4 April from 9am and Wednesday, 29 May 2024.
The 12 eligible local government areas and funding contributions are:
- Central Coast Council – $4.04 million
- Shellharbour City Council, Wollongong City Council – $6.03 million
- City of Newcastle, Cessnock City Council, Lake Macquarie City Council, Maitland City Council, Port Stephens City Council – $21.2 million
- Blacktown City Council, The Hills Shire Council – $4.45 million
- Camden Council – $4.8 million
- Wollondilly Shire Council – $21.64 million
New South Wales Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Paul Scully, said that when new homes are built, it is important that the infrastructure to support those new homes is also delivered.
“The New South Wales Government has reformed infrastructure contributions and is using the $62.5 million in State Voluntary Planning Agreement grants to close the infrastructure gap,” Minister Scully said.
“This program is helping us maintain a rolling pipeline of infrastructure that supports new homes and jobs where these funds are collected.
“It builds on our $2.2 billion NSW Budget Housing and Infrastructure Plan announced in the last budget and on key planning reforms introduced to accelerate the delivery of much needed housing in places where people want to live.
“I look forward to the projects funded under this program helping to make a real difference in our growing communities.”
