In September 2013, the Government asked IPART to advise about benchmark costs for infrastructure and how councils can establish the efficient costs of local infrastructure. We were asked to determine benchmark costs for a list of infrastructure items. We were also asked to make recommendation about: how to estimate costs for infrastructure items that could not be benchmarked; how to update the benchmarks; how to value land; mechanisms for dispute resolution; and whether planning, environmental and other standards have an impact on council’s infrastructure costs. Our Final Report sets out our advice and recommendations, and explains how these differ from those in our Draft Report.
In October 2018, IPART published an information paper that sets out our position on using the benchmark costs for the preparation or revision of section 7.11 local infrastructure contributions plans. Guidance for contributions plans: Local Infrastructure Benchmark Costs - Information Paper