Latest news with #CDCs
New Paper
3 days ago
- Business
- New Paper
Authorities to remove listings of resold CDC and SG60 vouchers from e-commerce sites
The community development councils (CDCs) said they will work with e-commerce platforms such as Carousell and Facebook Marketplace to take down listings selling CDC and SG60 vouchers. A CDC spokesperson said this on Aug 7 in response to queries from The Straits Times. The spokesperson reiterated: "The vouchers are not for resale and are not exchangeable for cash." Checks by The Straits Times on Aug 7 found at least six listings on Facebook Marketplace selling CDC and SG60 vouchers. The highest asking price was listed at $600, for $800 worth of vouchers. On Carousell, meanwhile, at least three listings have been removed since Aug 4. Most of the listings appeared to be priced lower than the monetary value of the vouchers. In July, Singaporeans aged 60 and above were able to claim $800 SG60 vouchers, and citizens aged 21 to 59 got $600 SG60 vouchers. The vouchers are valid till Dec 31, 2026. Like CDC vouchers, they can be used at more than 23,000 hawker stalls and heartland businesses, as well as eight supermarket chains with 400 outlets across the island. The latest tranche of CDC vouchers was released in May 2025, with every household receiving $500, and they are valid till Dec 31, 2025. Another $300 will be disbursed in January 2026. The CDC vouchers website states that vouchers are "not for resale (or) exchangeable for cash or gift vouchers". It also states that vouchers can be shared with household members, although the CDCs advised the public to exercise caution when sharing unique voucher links, as no reinstatement will be made for vouchers shared erroneously. In January 2024, the CDCs filed police reports against unofficial links claiming to redeem CDC vouchers circulating online. ST has contacted the police for an update on their investigations.
The Age
11-07-2025
- Business
- The Age
NSW wants to build more apartment blocks with faster approvals. Councils aren't convinced
Potential planning reforms that would enable terrace homes and apartment blocks up to six storeys to bypass the local council development application process have been criticised by councillors as 'reckless' and 'unpalatable' as NSW grapples with the fallout of the building crisis. As the state government forges ahead with an ambitious policy agenda to boost housing stock, The Daily Telegraph on Friday reported that NSW Labor was considering changes to enable terraces, townhouses, and apartment blocks up to six storeys to be deemed 'complying developments'. Complying development certificates (CDCs) certify that a proposed development is consistent with certain criteria or standards, enabling a project to gain planning approval without going through the more extensive development application process. They are typically issued by accredited private certifiers. Acting Premier Ryan Park said the government had not announced or decided on any such reforms, but he was 'not going to make apologies … for trying to get the next generation into homes'. Senior Liberal sources told the Herald in May that changes to the complying development certificates process, which would remove councils' ability to assess projects on merit, were among numerous measures the government was considering to speed up the delivery of homes. Loading North Sydney mayor Zoe Baker believed expanding the scheme would be 'reckless when we're still dealing with a building quality crisis for the state government to consider expanding what private certifiers are doing'. 'When you think about the four and six-storey residential flat buildings that have been made permissible through the low and mid-rise housing reforms across Sydney, Newcastle and the Illawarra, that's a huge amount of development that would be approved by the private sector.' Baker said apartment blocks typically required plans and conditions around construction traffic management, waste and operating hours, which were finalised during the assessment process.
Sydney Morning Herald
11-07-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
NSW wants to build more apartment blocks with faster approvals. Councils aren't convinced
Potential planning reforms that would enable terrace homes and apartment blocks up to six storeys to bypass the local council development application process have been criticised by councillors as 'reckless' and 'unpalatable' as NSW grapples with the fallout of the building crisis. As the state government forges ahead with an ambitious policy agenda to boost housing stock, The Daily Telegraph on Friday reported that NSW Labor was considering changes to enable terraces, townhouses, and apartment blocks up to six storeys to be deemed 'complying developments'. Complying development certificates (CDCs) certify that a proposed development is consistent with certain criteria or standards, enabling a project to gain planning approval without going through the more extensive development application process. They are typically issued by accredited private certifiers. Acting Premier Ryan Park said the government had not announced or decided on any such reforms, but he was 'not going to make apologies … for trying to get the next generation into homes'. Senior Liberal sources told the Herald in May that changes to the complying development certificates process, which would remove councils' ability to assess projects on merit, were among numerous measures the government was considering to speed up the delivery of homes. Loading North Sydney mayor Zoe Baker believed expanding the scheme would be 'reckless when we're still dealing with a building quality crisis for the state government to consider expanding what private certifiers are doing'. 'When you think about the four and six-storey residential flat buildings that have been made permissible through the low and mid-rise housing reforms across Sydney, Newcastle and the Illawarra, that's a huge amount of development that would be approved by the private sector.' Baker said apartment blocks typically required plans and conditions around construction traffic management, waste and operating hours, which were finalised during the assessment process.
Scoop
28-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Solomon Islands: HKH Constituency 2025 Development Pathway Targets Empowering Communities
The Hograno-Kia-Havulei (HKH) Constituency is charting a development pathway aimed at empowering communities through strategic investments in the productive sector. Utilising the Constituency Development Funds (CDF), the initiative seeks to stimulate the local economy, improve livelihoods, and elevate socio-economic conditions at the rural level. HKH Constituency Development Officer (CDO), Apollos Manegere underscored this vision during a recent meeting with community-based Constituency Development Committees (CDCs) in Kaevanga and Kia, Isabel Province. Accompanied by a team from the Ministry of Rural Development (MRD), Mr. Manegere outlined a holistic approach to rural development, integrating social, economic, and environmental components with a focus on sustainability, community-driven solutions, and infrastructure improvements. "Enabling local communities to identify their needs and implement solutions is vital for ownership and long-term success," Mr. Manegere said. "Our constituency office will continue to engage with the CDC to ensure the effective implementation of the 2025 CDF program." The HKH Constituency has prioritised the productive sector, allocating 40 per cent of its 2024 budget of $3.88 million to projects that generate economic returns. "We have abundant resources in fisheries, marine, agriculture, and forestry. By leveraging CDF support, we aim to inject investment capital into rural areas, reduce poverty, and enhance livelihoods," Mr. Manegere explained. 'Investments in agriculture and fisheries are expected to increase incomes and improve the quality of life for constituents. This aligns with our vision to foster economic growth and self-reliance," he added. Under the new CDF Act 2023, the HKH Constituency is committed to ensuring the efficient and effective delivery of development programs. The Act introduces key changes, including the establishment of CDCs, which play a pivotal role in coordinating, endorsing, and monitoring CDF projects. "The CDCs are critical stakeholders in this process, with clearly defined responsibilities under the new law," Mr. Manegere emphasised. CDC functions include: • Coordinating constituency development programs. • Approving annual budgets. • Managing CDF funds in consultation with the Member of Parliament and the Constituency Office. • Monitoring and supervising project implementation. • Engaging with communities to develop tailored development plans. MRD's Principal Legal Officer, Ms. Diana Alasia who was also part of the team, highlighted the CDF Act's emphasis on transparency, accountability, and community participation. "The law mandates inclusive decision-making, requiring at least two women to serve on each CDC. It also ensures project recipients uphold their commitments through legally binding agreements," she said. Mr. Manegere expressed gratitude to the Solomon Islands Government and the Ministry of Rural Development for their unwavering support of the CDF program. "This national initiative enables constituencies to access vital funds for development, directly benefiting our rural people," he noted. The Constituency Development Program, administered by MRD, is implemented across all 50 constituencies in the Solomon Islands to improve socio-economic outcomes nationwide.
Montreal Gazette
26-05-2025
- Business
- Montreal Gazette
Montreal ‘proud of our pedestrian streets,' Luc Rabouin says
Montreal's summer pedestrian streets are back for 2025, with some already open for the season. This year's slate is almost identical to the 2024 project, with no new additions, though Plaza St-Hubert will remain open to cars after its pedestrianization plan was scrapped in February. Last September, the city committed to fund summer pedestrian streets for three more years, cementing a framework that keeps cars off some commercial streets with the support of local commercial development corporations (CDCs). While the city dropped the Plaza St-Hubert plan after 60 per cent of local business owners voted against it, Plateau-Mont-Royal borough mayor Luc Rabouin maintained that the remaining streets still enjoy widespread support. 'No commercial street tried pedestrianization and didn't decide to redo it, except for one,' said Rabouin, who also sits on the city's executive committee. He called Plaza St-Hubert 'the exception that proves the rule.' Four years after the project began, 'we are now proud of our pedestrian streets,' Rabouin said. 'We're no longer asking ourselves whether it works or not. It works.' Nine streets are slated for pedestrianization this summer: Mont-Royal Ave. between St-Laurent Blvd. and St-Denis St. from May 26 until Oct. 16 and between St-Denis St. and De Lorimier Ave. from May 26 until Sept. 4. Duluth Ave. E. between St-Laurent Blvd. and St-Hubert St. from June 16 to Oct. 16. Wellington St. between 6th Ave. and Regina St. from June 2 to Sept. 19. Ste-Catherine St. E. between St-Hubert St. and Papineau Ave. and a short stretch of St-Christophe St. between Ste-Catherine St. E. and 1278 St-Christophe St. from May 15 to Oct. 14. St-Denis St. between Sherbrooke and Ste-Catherine Sts. from June 14 to Sept. 15. Émery St. between Sanguinet and St-Denis Sts. from June 14 to Sept. 15. Ontario St. E. between Pie-IX Blvd. and Darling St. from June 16 to Sept. 12. Bernard Ave. W. between Wiseman St. and Bloomfield St. from May 24 to Sept. 21. De Castelnau St. E. between St-Denis St. and de Gaspé Ave. from May 12 to Nov. 7. 'A pedestrian street is a lot more attractive than a street with constant intense traffic,' Rabouin said at a Villeray press conference held on the recently pedestrianized de Castelnau St. E. That street will see its temporary pedestrianization last the longest, running into November. 'You'll be able to celebrate Halloween with us,' said Villeray—Saint-Michel—Parc-Extension borough mayor Laurence Lavigne. Villeray CDC general director Louis Vaillancourt was optimistic, telling The Gazette the 2024 rendition of the project had boosted business for the merchants he represents. 'This is a lot of fun for the citizens, but my mission is to make money for my people,' he said. Claire, who manages the de Castelnau St. Épicerie Loco, a boutique grocery store, was also happy pedestrianization would return. She declined to provide her last name. The store takes advantage of the pedestrian street to offer tastings to passersby, she said. 'There are a lot of events in the street, so people are passing by, they see that the door is open, they do the tastings, it attracts a lot of people,' she said. 'We're very happy with that.' Restaurant owner Rabih Rouhana, who runs Comptoir Sainte-Cécile, said he is expecting to see an increase in customers. Restaurants tend to benefit the most from pedestrian projects, said Sébastien Ridoin, the general director of Montreal's CDC association. 'Obviously terrasses on the streets help them,' he said. But the projects only work when businesses are onside, Rabouin said, adding he was under no illusion that summer pedestrian streets work in every instance. 'It's not a recipe that we should apply to every commercial street. It's a recipe that works in certain cases.' In the short term, permanent pedestrianization remains out of reach, he said. 'We are always ready to discuss the most ambitious thing we can do,' Rabouin said, but most business owners want the pedestrianization to remain temporary. This story was originally published May 26, 2025 at 5:02 PM.
