NSW councils revolt against Sartor

Public swimming pools and other basic community facilities across NSW are under threat due to State Government plans to slash development contributions, according to Local Government Association of NSW (LGA) President, Councillor Genia McCaffery.

She’s not alone in this thinking. Mayors from 85 councils across the state have refused to support NSW Planning Minister Frank Sartor’s plans which include wresting some development control from councils (for separate story in News). What is putting the construction of new public infrastructure at risk, according to the LGA and the councils, is the proposal to scrap councils’ access to the $500 million worth of funds each year that come from developer contributions, also known as section 94 levies.

 

Sartor plans to reduce the amount councils can charge, and take control of the funds. The plans have been announced but at the time of writing had not been legislated. McCaffery says that the councils are likely to lose hundreds of millions of dollars in funding for crucial infrastructure if the changes proceed, and that planned facilities like aquatic centres won’t be built, while others will be delayed or reduced in quality or size.

 

According to the LGA, the City of Sydney Council could lose between $150m and $280m under the changes, while North Sydney could lose around $55m which would threaten improvements to the North Sydney Olympic Pool amongst other things. In Queanbeyan, the council says construction of a multi-purpose centre, a cultural centre and a swimming pool would have to re-assessed.