INTERESTED community members are invited to provide feedback on how Snowy Valleys Council (SVC) will calculate and apply future developer contributions and how the funds collected will be spent.
Currently on public exhibition, the Draft SVC Section 7.12 Local Infrastructure Contributions Plan is based on Section 7.12 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act) and sets out where developer contributions apply and how they will be calculated.
The draft plan also includes the infrastructure works/projects that may be funded through any contributions collected.
More than 65 per cent of councils across NSW, with the vast majority in regional areas, have already adopted section 7.12 contribution plans to fund local infrastructure associated with the growth of their towns and villages.
Adopting a new SVC section 7.12 contributions plan will allow the council to have a single consistent approach to infrastructure contributions.
Within the mechanics of the draft plan, a levy or contribution is placed on any residential or non-residential development with a proposed cost of more than $100,000.
The contribution is paid to the council either at the time of issue of a construction certificate for building works or at the time of the subdivision certificate in the case of subdivision works. The council would then use the collected contributions to fund infrastructure projects, as identified in Appendix B of the draft plan.
Exclusions to the contributions plan may include affordable housing, repair or replacement of development impacted by natural disasters and council-led projects where council is predominantly delivering infrastructure, facilities or buildings for the community.
Snowy Valleys Council currently operates under several 7.11 contribution plans which it uses for levying contributions.
The Draft section 7.12 plan does not apply to development already subject to an existing section 7.11 contribution.
Contributions collected under the previous section 7.11 plans for open space and public roads have been allocated to projects identified under those plans, including upgrades to recreational reserves, active recreational trails, and improving accessibility in town centres.
The contributions collected have amounted to $573,845.33.
At their October ordinary meeting, Snowy Valleys councillors resolved to allocate the restricted funds from the developer contributions to the following projects:
• $30,000 to the general fund as a reimbursement for the Batlow Pool accessibility upgrades;
• $150,000 to the Bottlebrush Drive Tumut Recreational Space embellishment works and park upgrades and accessibility;
• $150,000 to the Rotary Pioneer Park, Tumut Recreational Space – shade infrastructure;
• $60,000 to the Tumut Riverwalk accessibility and directional signage in accordance with the Tracks and Trails Master Plan outcomes;
• $25,000 to the Tumut Town Centre Traffic Study 2023 Recommendations (Road and Pedestrian Safety);
• $7500 to General Fund for plan administration of the section 7.12 Contributions Plan;
• $142,541 to the general fund for road projects identified under the Roads Contributions Plans; and
• $8804.33 to be transferred from the Section 7.11 Development Contributions Reserve to a Section 7.12 Development Contributions Reserve for allocation to projects identified in the plan.
Councillors also resolved to note that the designs for the capital works items listed are brought back to the council for design approval before being implemented.
“We need to be really cognitive of when we’re getting contributions made by people who are creating developments that those funds are actually going to have the best impact on our community,” said Cr Trina Thomson.
To find out more about the Draft SVC Section 7.12 Local Infrastructure Contributions Plan and to provide any feedback visit www.svc.nsw.gov.au/public-exhibition
Submissions close at 5pm on Thursday November 21.
