September 20, 2019
Proposed amendments to the State planning system mean ratepayers will get clearer information about how councils spend developer infrastructure charges.
Planning Minister Cameron Dick said the amendments would require councils to publish the amount of infrastructure charges being collected and where that money was being spent.
“The amendments will create a better understanding of how development activity benefits the broader community, through improved infrastructure and services such as stormwater, transport, public parks and land for community facilities,” Mr Dick said.
Under the proposal, councils would be required from January 1 to publish online the value of infrastructure charges they receive, and how and where these funds are spent.
Local Government Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the changes would build on potential amendments to the Local Government Act for transparency and accountability.
“Encouragingly, some local governments are already publishing this information online, in their budgets and annual reports, while others are in the process of providing this transparency,” Mr Hinchliffe said.
Property Council of Australia’s Queensland executive director Chris Mountford said the lack of transparency around the collection and spending of infrastructure charges had contributed to community concerns that development occurred without the necessary local infrastructure upgrades.
“What is often not understood is that all new developments are required to make a significant contribution to the cost of upgrading local government infrastructure as part of their approval,” Mr Mountford said.
“Until now, it has been difficult for the community to see the expected correlation between growth and development, and the associated infrastructure that should be delivered by council.
“These amendments will allow everyone from across government, industry and the community to better understand and keep tabs on how these levies are contributing to local infrastructure upgrades.”
The proposed amendments have been subject to consultation with local governments and key industry stakeholders, including the Local Government Association of Queensland, Property Council Australia and the Urban Development Institute of Australia.
