We are implementing all the recommendations of the Commission. When developing the recommendations, the Commission took into consideration feedback from industry, councils and the community
We’re adopting these recommendations to build a system that is clear, consistent, transparent and fair and that delivers the right infrastructure in the right place at the right time.
The below table sets out the Commissioner’s recommended policy change and where you can find it in our exhibition material.
| Productivity Commissioner's recommended policy change | Exhibition material |
|---|---|
| Both section 7.11 and 7.12 contributions | |
|
Introduction of system objectives and refinement of existing principles to make the contributions system more efficient and cost reflective (Recommendation 2.1) |
Principles of infrastructure contributions module Selecting the most appropriate funding mechanism module |
|
All infrastructure contributions plans required to be made through the new online digital tool on the NSW Planning Portal (Recommendations 4.8 and 6.1) |
Making a section 7.11 contributions plan module Making a section 7.12 contributions plan module |
|
Pooling of contribution funds is permitted by default (Recommendation 4.9) |
Borrowing and forward funding module Draft amendments to the Environmental Planning and Assessment regulation |
|
A new exemptions policy that is simple, clear, and standardised (Recommendation 6.4) |
Draft amendments to the Environmental Planning and Assessment regulation |
| Section 7.11 contributions | |
|
Infrastructure contribution plans to be developed upfront as part of the zoning process (Recommendation 4.1) |
Making a section 7.11 contributions plan module Exhibition module Draft amendments to the Environmental Planning and Assessment regulation |
|
Introduction of a direct land contribution mechanism (Recommendation 4.2) |
Making a section 7.11 contributions plan module Local contributions and land value contributions Land value contribution: Exhibition paper Draft amendments to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation |
|
Introduction of benchmarked costs for infrastructure (Recommendation 4.5) |
|
| Section 7.12 contributions | |
|
Levy for residential development equivalent to 3% and charged as a rate per dwelling. Commercial and industrial uses remain at the equivalent of 1% and charged as a rate per square metre (Recommendation 4.11) |
Making a section 7.12 contributions plan module EP&A Regulation: Explanatory paper Draft amendments to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation |
| Planning agreements | |
|
Planning agreements are now also consistent with principles of the infrastructure contributions system (Recommendation 4.12) |
Principles of infrastructure contributions module |
|
Draft planning agreements must now be publicly exhibited before being entered into (Recommendation 4.12) |
Exhibition module |
|
Draft and approved planning agreements and the register of agreements in new digital tool on the NSW Planning Portal (Recommendation 4.12) |
Draft amendments to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation |
|
High-level guidance for mining and energy related planning agreements (Recommendation 4.13) |
Infrastructure contributions for mining and energy developments module |
| Regional infrastructure contributions | |
|
New Regional Infrastructure Contribution (Recommendation 5.1) |
|
|
Practice Note for the new Regional Infrastructure Contribution (Recommendation 5.2) |
|
|
New Transport Infrastructure Contribution (Recommendation 5.3) |
|
|
New Biodiversity Infrastructure Contribution (Recommendation 5.4) |
|
| Local contributions and Regional contributions | |
|
Practice note to guide efficient and consistent use of works-in-kind agreements (Recommendation 6.2) |
|
|
Introduce a simple, clear, standardised exemptions policy (Recommendation 6.4) |
|