Developer Contributions for Redfern Waterloo

The City's submission on the draft RWA Contributions Plan details the draft's failure to ensure the current per capita rate of open space is not reduced, despite proposed massive increases in the residential and worker population. Our submission also raises serious concern about under-funding of promised public benefits, leaving Council to ultimately foot the bill once the Authority winds up.

This contrasts with the City's own draft Development Contributions Plan, currently on public exhibition, which maps out expected new development up to 2021 and provides for developers to contribute an estimated $434 million in cash and kind over the next 15 years.

These contributions ensure developers meet the costs their projects impose for new infrastructure, including streetscape improvements, community facilities, new parks, libraries, improvements to existing parks and aquatic facilities. The City's Plan earmarks $11.3 million for more than 200 child care places; $267 million for new parks totalling 170,000 square metres, equal to 20 football fields; and $40 million for a major community facility at Green Square.

The Redfern Waterloo Authority is also now exhibiting its Draft Affordable Housing Contributions Plan until 12 February 2007.  The Plan sets out the way that the RWA will levy developers to provide for affordable housing in the area.

Over the life of that 10 year plan, 75 affordable housing units are proposed at a cost of $35 million. The Plan requires developers to pay

$59 per square metre of floor area for all new development, with around 600,000 square metres of new development expected. The Plan only applies to development which the Minister for Planning approves, not development assessed by Council. 

In April 2006, I told Parliament that the RWA should prepare these affordable housing and development contributions plans before completing its Built Environment Plan. That did not occur and I remain concerned that the RWA is working in an ad hoc way without a full understanding of the area and is relying on overdevelopment to fund essential services.

Urgent solutions are needed for the lack of green open space and the significant traffic and transport issues to avoid repeating past mistakes of urban consolidation without prior infrastructure investments.

The RWA Draft Affordable Housing Contributions Plan: www.redfernwaterloo.nsw.gov.au/development_applications/draft_rwa_housing_plan.htm

City of Sydney submission on RWA Development Contributions Plan: www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/Development/UrbanRenewalProjects/RedfernPrecinct/AuthorityDraftContributionsPlanUpdate.asp

City's Draft Development Contributions Plan: www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/Council/OnExhibition/DraftSection94DCP2006.asp