STATE GOVERNMENT THREAT TO DEVELOPMENT CONTRIBUTIONS
Parks, playgrounds, swimming pools, childcare centres, environmental works
and sportsgrounds are at risk because of a State Government threat to
slash development contributions.
The Planning Minister Frank Sartor is also seeking to dramatically limit
the way in which regional infrastructure funds raised by councils can be
spent, ruling out building regional facilities and renewing existing facilities.
He has stated his intent is to reduce costs of construction for new dwellings
but no method by which any savings might be passed on to the eventual owner
have been identified.
COUNCILS NEED MORE MONEY NOT LESS
Councils are already struggling to provide the infrastructure their
communities need and many do not have the financial resources to upgrade
facilities that are servicing growing populations. Rate capping and population
growth have left many with an infrastructure back log which requires more
funds to be addressed, not less.
WHAT ABOUT THE COMMUNITY?
This action by the state government was announced without appropriate consultation
and will directly impact on every member of the community. Everyone needs
to be aware of what these changes mean and what they mean for their neighbourhoods
and for their regional facilities. Without providing more detail and
without consulting the community, the state government is failing in
its obligation to be transparent and accountable to the people of New
South Wales.
INFRASTRUCTURE IS CRITICAL FOR COMMUNITIES!
The state government is clearly failing to deliver critical infrastructure
that the people of New South Wales want such as quality hospitals, an
integrated public transport system and quality public schools. Now they
want to put more money in the hands of developers at the expense of our
communities. It is time to say HANDS OFF and let local government get
on with the business of delivering sustainable outcomes and local infrastructure
where it is needed.
