IPART has completed its Final Report on the Review of Penrith City Council’s Orchard Hills North Contributions Plan 2022.
The council is seeking to levy development contributions above the $20,000 cap per lot/dwelling. The council will use the contributions it collects to fund open space, stormwater management and transport infrastructure, as well as land acquisitions needed to support development in the precinct.
IPART found most of the infrastructure and costs in the plan are essential, reasonable and that community liaison has occurred.
We have made recommendations about how the council can amend the Orchard Hills North contributions plan to fully meet the assessment criteria outlined in the Infrastructure Contributions Practice Note (2019 Practice Note) published by the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure.
After implementing our recommendations, the total costs of the plan will have increased by 5.8%, from around $218 million to around $231 million mostly due to recommending increased contingencies and updating plan administration costs and making adjustments to the work schedule.
The council’s proposed contribution rates were between $64,853 and $129,702 and our recommended contribution rates range from $68,473 to $136,946.
We will provide our final assessment and recommendations to the Minister. The Minister, or their Nominee, will advise the council on any changes it needs to make prior to adopting the plan. The council will then be entitled to charge the applicable contributions rates in Orchard Hills North.