Parra News July 27 2021

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Tuesday, July 27, 2021
LOCAL NEWS
It’s a “slap in the face”
Mayors come out against plans to overhaul developer contributions
NICOLA BARTON
A
number of western Sydney Councils
are desperate to halt changes
to developer contributions, as the
State Government pushes ahead with
plans that could undermine billions of
dollars worth of critical infrastructure
projects.
The Parliamentary Inquiry into the
Environmental Planning and Assessment
Amendment (Infrastructure Contributions)
Bill 2021 heard from several councils
recently.
Councils believe the infrastructure
contribution rule changes threaten
to defer and reduce critical developer
payments to Councils and are advocating
for the value of the developer contributions
to cover the cost of increased local
infrastructure required to meet the needs
of new residents.
City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Bob
Dwyer said the proposed changes will
seriously impact the livability of the
Parramatta city in the future.
“Parramatta is one of the fastest growing
regions in Australia and right now we are
Developer contributions fund important infrastructure in local areas.
doing the heavy lifting when it comes to
Greater Sydney’s housing supply and jobs
market,” he said.
“But the success of our city is dependent
on our ability to fund the necessary local
infrastructure to support this growth.
“The proposed changes could inhibit
our ability to collect the developer contributions
we need to build the footpaths
and cycleways, libraries and community
centres, parks and open spaces, for our
booming population.”
Earlier this week, City of Parramatta
Council endorsed a new contributions
plan for developments outside the
Parramatta CBD, which will help bring in
more than $1.24 billion to fund community
infrastructure over the next 20 years.
By then, it’s predicted the Parramatta
region will have welcomed more than
166,000 new residents and 33,000 new
workers.
A contribution plan designed specifically
for the Parramatta CBD is also being
drafted and is expected to go on public
exhibition in coming months.
Cr Dwyer said the NSW government’s
proposed new system could undermine
Council’s years of work and planning,
potentially leaving the community worse
off.
Cumberland City Council Mayor Steve
Christou said he believes the proposal
intentionally lacks detail to keep Councils
and the community in the dark.
“To take away such an important funding
source from local councils, then proclaim
councils can make up that revenue from
raising rates on their residents is extremely
short-sighted and a slap in the face for
hard working Australians,” he said.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces
Rob Stokes says the reform is necessary
to “simplify upfront developer charges,
deliver transparency and ensure new
communities have access to open space
and services”.
If passed, the system overhaul will come
into effect by July next year.
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