NSW needs to build thousands more homes. Developers say this change will help
Premier Chris Minns on Thursday released long-awaited draft guidelines for a scheme that enables property developers to choose between paying a $12,000 levy per residential lot, or delivering infrastructure such as parks and roads as a 'works-in-kind' contribution for new developments.
The changes underscore debate about the provision of infrastructure in fast-growing parts of Sydney, as the state government seeks to ramp up the delivery of desperately needed housing stock.
Developers will be able to dedicate land for public purposes or deliver infrastructure projects, rather than paying through the Housing and Productivity Contribution. The government introduced the contribution as a tax on new developments across Sydney, the Illawarra, Hunter and the Central Coast to replace the existing Special Infrastructure Contributions scheme in 2023.
The state government hopes the proposed guidelines will improve the feasibility of greenfield developments, as developers will not be required to hand over significant amounts of cash before the issue of the first construction certificate or throughout the development approval process.
Loading
Urban Development Institute of Australia chief executive Stuart Ayres said the absence of a works-in-kind framework for the past couple of years had been a roadblock to starting construction on new homes.
'In the middle of a housing crisis we need more green lights for housing. This will take the pressure off the taxpayer and allow developers across the state to use their own capital to fund critical infrastructure, and that means projects can get rolling much earlier.'
But Opposition Leader Mark Speakman said the draft scheme was 'an admission that Labor can't build the infrastructure needed to support housing – so now they're begging the private sector to do it instead. But the $12,000 tax per home still exists, driving up costs and driving down supply.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Sky News AU
30 minutes ago
- Sky News AU
Labor's handling of algal bloom disaster ‘woefully inadequate', Ley says
Labor's response to South Australia's algal bloom disaster is 'woefully inadequate', Sussan Ley says. The Albanese government has been accused of dragging its heels on a federal response to the bloom, with Environment Minister Murray Watt hesitant to call it a natural disaster, even as thousands of marine animals wash up on South Australian beaches. Senator Watt announced on Thursday that he had asked for a review into disaster classifications, similar to one that took place after the Black Saturday bushfires. But the Opposition Leader said it 'sounds like the sort of bureaucratic explanation the Labor Party would use'. Speaking to the ABC from Adelaide, Ms Ley said the Albanese government had 'a long list of excuses they've been making for not acting on something that has captured every single South Australian'. 'I'm looking forward to meeting the people who are hurting so badly in these regional communities today,' she told the national broadcaster. 'The response so far from the government has been woefully inadequate. 'This is a natural disaster and it is a national disaster.' She also called out Senator Watt directly, accusing him of dodging whether Anthony Albanese would bring extra federal funding when he visits South Australia next week. 'Don't wait for the Prime Minister to come for a pic-op,' Ms Ley said. 'Actually deliver the support now if you know it's coming and help ease the pressure, including the real financial pressure, that these communities are facing. 'This is just not good enough.' Appearing on the ABC shortly before her, Senator Watt said there was 'no doubting whatsoever that this is a very severe environmental event'. 'On the natural disaster declaration, and I realise there's been many calls for that to occur,' he said. 'This is much more like a drought, in the sense that it is a long-running event and builds up over time. 'We're waiting for weather conditions to intervene before it ends and that's quite different to what we think of as a natural disaster and the rapid onset like floods and cyclones and bushfires that come through an area, leave a trail of destruction and move on. 'That's not the kind of situation we're dealing with here and that's why we've come up with a support package which is probably a bit more like how we respond to droughts with state and federal governments responding to thinking about the short-term needs and long-term needs.' Senator Watt added that he had not 'spent too much time into how to jam this event into particular definitions'. 'What I've been trying to do is come up with the money to support South Australians and get expert advice on what the impact will be,' he said. Originally published as Labor's handling of algal bloom disaster 'woefully inadequate', Ley says


Perth Now
30 minutes ago
- Perth Now
Albo's ‘woeful' algal bloom response
Labor's response to South Australia's algal bloom disaster is 'woefully inadequate', Sussan Ley says. The Albanese government has been accused of dragging its heels on a federal response to the bloom, with Environment Minister Murray Watt hesitant to call it a natural disaster, even as thousands of marine animals wash up on South Australian beaches. Senator Watt announced on Thursday that he had asked for a review into disaster classifications, similar to one that took place after the Black Saturday bushfires. But the Opposition Leader said it 'sounds like the sort of bureaucratic explanation the Labor Party would use'. Up to 14,000 marine animals have washed up on South Australia's beaches due to the algal bloom. Supplied Credit: Supplied Speaking to the ABC from Adelaide, Ms Ley said the Albanese government had 'a long list of excuses they've been making for not acting on something that has captured every single South Australian'. 'I'm looking forward to meeting the people who are hurting so badly in these regional communities today,' she told the national broadcaster. 'The response so far from the government has been woefully inadequate. 'This is a natural disaster and it is a national disaster.' She also called out Senator Watt directly, accusing him of dodging whether Anthony Albanese would bring extra federal funding when he visits South Australia next week. 'Don't wait for the Prime Minister to come for a pic-op,' Ms Ley said. 'Actually deliver the support now if you know it's coming and help ease the pressure, including the real financial pressure, that these communities are facing. 'This is just not good enough.' Opposition Leader Sussan Ley says Labor's response to South Australia's algal bloom disaster is 'woefully inadequate'. Martin Ollman / NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia Appearing on the ABC shortly before her, Senator Watt said there was 'no doubting whatsoever that this is a very severe environmental event'. 'On the natural disaster declaration, and I realise there's been many calls for that to occur,' he said. 'This is much more like a drought, in the sense that it is a long-running event and builds up over time. 'We're waiting for weather conditions to intervene before it ends and that's quite different to what we think of as a natural disaster and the rapid onset like floods and cyclones and bushfires that come through an area, leave a trail of destruction and move on. 'That's not the kind of situation we're dealing with here and that's why we've come up with a support package which is probably a bit more like how we respond to droughts with state and federal governments responding to thinking about the short-term needs and long-term needs.' Senator Watt added that he had not 'spent too much time into how to jam this event into particular definitions'. 'What I've been trying to do is come up with the money to support South Australians and get expert advice on what the impact will be,' he said.

Sky News AU
2 hours ago
- Sky News AU
‘Dropped the ball': Productivity going ‘backwards' under Labor
Deputy Opposition Leader Ted O'Brien has slammed Labor's spending and the productivity going 'backwards' under the Albanese government. The Reserve Bank of Australia has revised its productivity forecast, now at 0.7 per cent, down from 1 per cent. 'The Albanese government has dropped the ball,' Mr O'Brien told Sky News Australia.