On 3 March 2009, the Brisbane City Council proposed amendments, under section 2.1.19 of the Integrated Planning Act 1997 , to six Planning Scheme Policies for infrastructure contributions. In essence the Planning Scheme Policies (PSPs) outline:
- the infrastructure requirements to service existing and future development in Brisbane City; and
- contribution rates for water and waterways, sewerage, transport infrastructure, and community purposes to service new development.
The Act permits the Council to impose conditions on a development approval requiring the contribution of land, works or money with respect to the cost of supplying infrastructure, where the conditions are imposed in accordance with a valid PSP. The Council generally imposes conditions requiring infrastructure contributions at the reconfiguring a lot, or material change of use stage.
The proposed amendments released by the Brisbane City Council are in relation to the following six PSP:
- Water Supply Infrastructure Contributions;
- Sewage Infrastructure Contributions;
- Infill Transport Infrastructure Contributions;
- Infill Community Purpose Infrastructure Contributions;
- Infill Waterways Infrastructure Contributions; and
- Inner North-Eastern Suburbs Infrastructure Contributions.
The Council has continued to target growth areas as a means of facilitating development to occur in these areas. Many of the amendments are minor and consequential relating only to the formatting and language of the PSPs. However there are a number of proposed changes to the PSPs that will be of significance to developers and landowners.
Amendments
Of particular interest will be the amendments in the draft Water Supply Infrastructure Contributions PSP. The draft amendments to the PSP will allow for the inclusion of recycled water infrastructure contributions in addition to the existing water supply contributions already levied. This is a result of a network review of master planning, infrastructure schedules and cost apportionment which has identified a preferred strategy to address future demand by increasing the supply and use of recycled water. The review has also resulted in the identification of two new contribution areas for Australia TradeCoast and Rochedale. The amendments to the PSP include the calculations of charges, infrastructure charges schedule, and plans for trunk infrastructure, as well as a number of minor amendments to correct the format and presentation of the PSP to accommodate the additional contributions. Some other consequential amendments to the PSP include the layout and language of the document which was thought to cause confusion.
The Infill Transport Infrastructure Contributions PSP has also been amended to include two new local pathways for Woolloongabba and Lutwyche. The new local pathways have been established as a result of proposed development and increased demand on local infrastructure in order to support the Woolloongabba Centre Neighbourhood Plan and Lutwyche Road Corridor Plan.
The Inner North-Eastern Suburbs Infrastructure Contribution PSP has been amended since the original policy did not provide or allow for the collection of contributions for the upgrading of the City Cat terminal at Commercial Road, Newstead. The amendments to the Scheme will include contributions for the $4 million cost of the upgrade and updates to local road infrastructure such as roads and pathways supporting the terminal.
The Infill Community Purpose Infrastructure Contribution PSP has been updated to accommodate new local parks which will be located in Milton and Lutwyche as a result of increased development. Contribution rates have been updated due to the changes in the park schedule and to allow for existing park upgrades.
Additionally, Council determines the value of infrastructure contribution units (ICUs) each financial year. For 2008/09, the value of an ICU has been set at $1.63, increased from $1.55 for the 2007/08 financial year.
Making a submission
Under the Act, written submissions about any aspect of the proposed amendments may be given to the local government by any person within the consultation period. If you wish to make a submission, it must be received on or before close of business on Thursday 9 April 2009. A submission must be in writing and signed. It must also state the name and address of each person making the submission, and state the grounds of the submission, facts, and circumstances relied on in support of those grounds. The local government must then consider every submission about the proposed planning scheme policy or amendments. After the local government has considered the submissions regarding the amendments to the PSP, it must either, adopt the amendment as notified, adopt the amendment, as modified, having regard to any submissions, or decide not to adopt the amendments.
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