IPART has released its Draft Report on the Review of Wollondilly Shire Council’s Appin Growth Area Contributions Plan 2024.
The council proposed to levy a contribution rate of around $85,000 for a typical house. In total, it would raise around $1.54 billion in contributions from developers over the life of the Appin Growth Area Contributions Plan, which is expected to span beyond 30 years. 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 that most of the infrastructure in the plan is largely essential and reasonable, and that community liaison has occurred. However, IPART has made recommendations that the council revise its methodology for deriving open space costs and choices of indexation, and to amend errors in the works schedule. Other recommendations that IPART has made relate to future changes that are likely to be required following finalisation of further supporting documentation, making adjustments for any grant funding received following the adoption of the plan, and the inclusion of a land acquisition allowance.
We published a Draft Report on our assessment findings and draft recommendations. We welcome submissions from any interested parties until 24 January 2025.
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 contribution rates in the Appin Growth Area.