Decision Maker: Council
Decision status: Recommendations Determined
To Council:
Last month, Council resolved to strongly oppose
the Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment (Infrastructure
Contributions) Bill 2021 that was introduced in June 2021 as part of the budget
legislation. I have written to the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces and
the Premier to request that the Bill is withdrawn.
The way in which the NSW Government has
introduced this legislative change without proper consultation and transparency
shows total disregard for the important work of local government.
This was confirmed by the Parliamentary Inquiry
report that was released on 10 August 2021, which recommended Parliament not
proceed with the Bill until the detailed regulations were developed and
consulted on, and the IPART inquiries were finalised.
The Minister for Planning and Public Spaces says
he is concerned about communities missing out on new local roads, parks and
other vital infrastructure. This is grossly misleading and wrong.
His “solution” is for the NSW Government to
take up to half the developer contributions Councils collect for new local
roads, parks and other vital infrastructure and put it in the State’s coffers –
with no guarantee that money will be spent in the area where the development is
occurring. This is from the same Government that has given us the sports rorts
scandal and openly said pork-barrelling taxpayers money is ok.
The NSW Government imposes housing targets
and directions on Councils which increase density. But this legislation will
effectively remove the ability of Councils to provide the new local roads, parks
and other vital infrastructure that make this density acceptable to
communities. In the same breath, the Government has told us if we want to
continue delivering quality infrastructure to support the new developments and
increased density that they have mandated, we should raise rates.
This is not equitable.
On 6 and 11 August 2021, I hosted two
roundtables with twenty-nine Mayors and their General Managers and Chief
Executive Officers from metropolitan Sydney. It is clear they share our
concerns about this assault on the ability of local government to meet the
infrastructure expectations of our communities.
Mayors from all sides of politics were
concerned about the impact of this legislative change on our communities, and
there was consensus that the Bill must be stopped.
Mayors agreed to coordinate action that will
enable Councils to tell their communities about the impact of these changes,
undertake coordinated lobbying of Members of Parliament, and contribute to
joint advertising and community awareness. I am asking Council to support the
City of Sydney’s participation in this campaign by allocating the necessary
funding.
COUNCILLOR
CLOVER MOORE
Lord Mayor
Moved by the Chair (the Lord Mayor), seconded by Councillor Scully –
(A)
note:
(i)
on 11
August 2021, the Lord Mayor wrote to the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces
and the Premier to request that the Environmental Planning and Assessment
Amendment (Infrastructure Contributions) Bill 2021 be withdrawn;
(ii)
on 6
and 11 August 2021, the Lord Mayor met with twenty nine mayors and their
General Managers and Chief Executive Officers from metropolitan Sydney to
discuss concerns about the Bill;
(iii)
that
the Mayors agreed to coordinate a joint advocacy strategy to defeat the Bill
with the first priority being to deliver a clear and consistent message to
communities about the impact of the proposed legislative changes; and
(iv)
on 10
August 2021, the Parliamentary Inquiry report was released, which recommended
Parliament not proceed with the Bill until the detailed regulations were
developed and consulted on, and the IPART inquiries were finalised;
(B) endorse supporting a joint advocacy strategy
with other Councils from metropolitan Sydney to defeat the Bill; and
(C)
approve
up to $80,000 from the 2021/22 General Contingency Fund for the City of Sydney
to contribute to and coordinate a joint campaign with other metropolitan Sydney
councils to deliver a clear and consistent message to our communities about
what the proposed legislative changes mean and the impact of this on our local
area, including for advertising and a community flyer.
The substantive
Minute was carried on the following show of hands –
Ayes (8) The Chair (the Lord Mayor),
Councillors Kok, Miller, Phelps, Scott, Scully, Thalis and Vithoulkas
Noes (1) Councillor Chung.
Minute carried.
S051491
Report author: Erin Cashman
Publication date: 16/08/2021
Date of decision: 16/08/2021
Decided at meeting: 16/08/2021 - Council
Accompanying Documents: