City offers industry broader say on PIP review
26/10/2009 6:08:00 PM
Gold Coast City Council will give local developers greater say in the current review of the city’s Priority Infrastructure Plan (PIP).Council today (26/10) supported Mayor Ron Clarke’s move to open up the technical review of infrastructure charges to additional, or alternate, members nominated by the development industry. His motion follows a successful Council/industry forum held last Thursday to consider additional relief to industry on infrastructure charges.
Cr Clarke said developers had listed five requests, including immediate discounts of 35 per cent for residential and 65 per cent on all other charges, along with deferred payments and an economic study of the PIP.
“Today we have committed to a response on their requests by Christmas.”
Cr Clarke said today’s resolution also would see Council consider a series of steps to provide further help to the development industry, which had been hard hit by the global financial crisis.
“Among these initiatives we will:
• investigate if developers can defer payments until the point of sale
• consider undertaking an economic impact study on the PIP scheme, with this possibly being jointly funded by Council and industry, and
• continue to investigate if Council can opt out of acting as a collection agency for State transport charges.”
Cr Clarke said the current PIP review also would explore other relief measures.
Council is set to soon implement temporary relief for developers who construct less than the maximum density allowed under the Planning Scheme.
Council’s Sustainable City Future Committee will consider the temporary local planning instrument tomorrow.
The Mayor said the development and construction industries had suffered during the economic crisis.
“But they are not alone. Other industries, including tourism, have felt the impact and we need to ensure we treat everyone fairly. While we are willing to move quickly wherever possible, we also need to ensure the measures taken will provide effective assistance, without an undue burden on the city.”
