IPART is inviting stakeholder feedback on its approach to assessing contributions plans and draft benchmark costs for local infrastructure.
Tribunal Chair Carmel Donnelly said new development is essential to providing housing for NSW’s growing population.
“Contributions plans allow councils to provide public services and essential infrastructure for communities in new development areas, like parks, roads and stormwater management,” Ms Donnelly said.
“We are reviewing our approach to assessing contributions plans and our Discussion Paper on the review proposes opportunities to make our assessments more efficient and effective."
“The updated benchmarks are intended to help councils estimate the costs of local infrastructure in the contributions plans we assess."
“Benchmarks are also an important tool we use to assess reasonable costs in a contributions plan."
“When councils don’t have accurate estimates for the costs of local infrastructure, they may not collect enough from developers to build the facilities and services that these new communities need. That may mean necessary infrastructure is funded by ratepayers.”
Ms Donnelly said the Tribunal was also conscious that unnecessary delays in the assessment of local infrastructure contributions plans can have a financial impact on councils and developers.
“We are inviting feedback from councils, developers and other stakeholders on our approach to assessing contributions plans and our revised benchmarks,” she said.
The Discussion Paper and Draft Report are available on IPART’s website. Stakeholders are invited to provide feedback on the Discussion Paper and Draft Report by 7 February 2025.
Media Contact: Mark O’Brien, 0427 105 865, media@ipart.nsw.gov.au.
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