A new Development Contributions Policy and Governance Framework have been endorsed at Council to provide a transparent and consistent approach to infrastructure planning, financial management of contributions and funding for new developments across Greater Bendigo.
Development Contributions Schemes (DCS) provide fair funding and development of critical infrastructure required for new communities in Greater Bendigo's growth areas.
The schemes give assurance to developers and future residents that critical infrastructure would be provided in a timely manner as development progressively takes place in these growth areas.
Even though development contributions do not fund all infrastructure and services that are generated from a new development, they do fund the 'essential' shared infrastructure required to support the new development.
This means the costs are shared between all landowners who would benefit from the infrastructure.
Major infrastructure and facilities that service much larger catchments are often funded by the City with support from the state or federal governments. In some cases, development contributions are applied as a portion of the overall costs where there is a strong relationship between the infrastructure and the new development.
The City invited the community to provide feedback on the new Development Contributions Policy and Governance Framework earlier this year.
Mayor Cr Andrea Metcalf said the Development Contribution Policy combined with a Governance Framework provided a clear approach to infrastructure.
"As part of the City's long-term growth there is a need for a transparent and consistent approach to infrastructure planning, and funding for new developments," Cr Metcalf said.
"The policy and framework will apply to the implementation and management of development contributions across the City of Greater Bendigo. Government and industry best practice, and consultation with other councils and the development industry, have contributed to the development of both the policy and the framework.
"Future growth areas in the region require significant investment, and this is a fair way to manage them, and the services required through a clearly defined policy and framework."
The policy and framework:
- Define the purpose, scope, principles, and objectives for development contributions
- Outline opportunities for funding shared essential infrastructure
- Provide definitions and outline the structure for decision-making
- Clarify roles and stakeholders
