The New South Wales Government and Local Government New South Wales (LGNSW) have agreed on improvements to the infrastructure contribution reforms, following concerns raised about the impacts on councils.
New South Wales Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Rob Stokes, said the changes to the package addressed issues raised by LGNSW and councils during extensive consultation.
“The changes we’re making will build a simple, fair, consistent and clear system for delivering infrastructure to support more homes and jobs across the State,” Mr Stokes said.
“I said that no council will be worse off under these reforms and we will continue to work with LGNSW and councils to make sure that happens.
“We all want the same thing – great infrastructure and more investment in our local communities. That’s what these reforms will deliver.
“I want to thank LGNSW President Linda Scott for her tireless advocacy on behalf of councils. She worked with me to make this a better package for the benefit of her community and others across New South Wales.”
The reforms are expected to unlock $12 billion in productivity gains, create 2,600 jobs and attract new investment critical to the State’s economic recovery.
President of LGNSW, Linda Scott, welcomed the New South Wales Government’s commitment to working with her to make changes to the package.
“The Minister has listened to the concerns of the local government sector and worked with local governments to make changes that address our concerns,” Cr Scott said.
“With the commitments made and changes to be made to the draft legislation, I am now confident that this is a package that will improve the infrastructure contributions system.”
Modifications to the package include:
- Allowing councils that currently fund community infrastructure from developer contributions to continue to do so
- Ensuring that state contributions are spent in the region where they are collected
- Re-setting the blanket rate councils can charge, known as 7.12 plans
- Increasing the maximum amount councils can charge for infrastructure associated with solar and wind farms
Mr Stokes will seek financial assistance for councils that can demonstrate cash flow problems due to directions about the payment of contributions at the construction certificate stage.
The Productivity Commissioner has confirmed that the changes to the package are consistent with the recommendations he made to reform the infrastructure contributions system.
Incoming councils will have until the week after their first ordinary meeting in February 2022 to make submissions on the policy package currently on public exhibition.
