The Draft 7.12 Plan will apply to the Macquarie Park Corridor, which includes the land shown in the below map.

A contributions plan is a policy that allows a council to levy new development to fund the delivery of local infrastructure to support anticipated growth. There are two different types of contribution plans - a Section 7.11 plan (7.11 Plan), and a Section 7.12 plan (7.12 Plan).

A 7.11 Plan levies a specific contribution rate based on the type of development (e.g. $20,000 per additional dwelling). 7.11 plans must demonstrate a clear connection between the additional development and the demand for infrastructure.

A 7.12 Plan levies a fixed rate charge based on the estimated cost of development. 7.12 Plans provide more flexibility in the preparation of the work schedule and do not need to demonstrate a clear connection between the additional development and the demand for infrastructure.

The NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces has amended Clause 209 of the Environmental Planning & Assessment Regulation 2021 to allow Council to exceed the maximum levy of 1% of development costs stipulated in the legislation.

If adopted, the Draft 7.12 Plan will allow Council to levy the following rates on new development:

• Development up to $250,000 – exempt
• $250,000 or more if the development is for the purpose of residential accommodation or mixed-use development including residential accommodation – 4%
• $250,000 or more for all other development (excluding residential accommodation) – 1.5%

The Draft 7.12 Plan contains a savings provision to ensure that the new levy amounts will only apply to applications lodged after the adoption and commencement of the new plan.

The existing Section 7.11 Contributions Plan 2020 will continue to apply to applications lodged before the 7.12 Plan comes into effect.

Appendix 2 of the Draft 7.12 Plan contains a list of anticipated infrastructure to be funded by the plan. This list was prepared by DPHI with input from Council. 54 infrastructure items have been identified with a total estimated value of $649,797,917.

The Draft 7.12 Plan will be constantly monitored and regularly reviewed by Council to ensure that the works schedule remains appropriate.

The existing Section 7.11 Contributions Plan 2020 applies to land within the Macquarie Park Corridor. This plan does not anticipate the growth facilitated by the NSW Government’s recent rezoning and will not fund the level of required infrastructure.

The Environmental Planning & Assessment Regulation 2021 stipulates that a development may be subject to a condition under a Section 7.11 plan or a Section 7.12 plan, but not both.

The adoption of the Draft 7.12 Plan will require an amendment to the existing Section 7.11 Plan to ensure that land within the Macquarie Park Corridor is only subject to the Draft 7.12 Plan.