2014-01-28 Planning & Organisation Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                              28 JANUARY 2014


    Notably, the Noosa Priority Infrastructure Plan (PIP) is the same plan adopted previously
    by the former Noosa Council prior to amalgamation in 2008 but with minor amendments to
    comply with current legislative requirements as stipulated by the Deputy Premier, Minister
    for State Development, Infrastructure Planning approval dated 16 May 2013.

    The 2010 and 2011 legislative amendments governing the “water reform”, required an
    apportionment of the adopted infrastructure charge to be agreed between Council and the
    Distributor-Retailer being Unitywater.

    Considerable work went into developing a fair and equitable apportionment method to both
    parties and this was based on the former “draft” Infrastructure Charges Schedules (ICSs)
    and “trunk” networks contained in the draft Priority Infrastructure Plans (PIPs) applicable to
    each planning scheme and their respective charge catchment areas. The apportionment
    therefore differs according to the development type and its location since it aligns with the
    estimated costs and demand associated with providing “trunk” infrastructure in that area.
    The apportionment agreed to, is detailed in Tables 10.1 and 10.2 of the current resolution.

    It is recommended that this apportionment of the adopted charge between infrastructure
    networks be maintained as being the most fair and equitable distribution possible for both
    Unitywater and Council under the current regime and would cause unnecessary
    complications if changed.

    With Noosa having now separated from the Sunshine Coast Council, it is proposed that
    Council adopt its own “Adopted Infrastructure Charges Resolution” in accordance with the
    initial legislative requirements. This will:

        reduce the size and complexity of the document so as to only relate to development
         occurring within the Noosa Shire local government area;
        will allow Council to review and amend any charge rates it considers appropriate at
         the current time; and
        remove any doubt whether Noosa could be potentially bound by any future
         amendment made by the Sunshine Coast Council to the current resolution.

    Council may adopt the level of charges it considers suitable according to the development
    use and class categories, however, it cannot exceed the maximum adopted infrastructure
    charges stipulated by the “State Planning Regulatory Provision (adopted charges)”. The
    maximum permissible charges have been adopted for non-residential development but
    some reductions have been adopted in relation to residential development. The current
    maximum charges permissible for residential development are:

        $28,000 per 3 or more bedroom dwelling (the current reduced rate adopted being
         $27,000); and
        $20,000 per 1 or 2 bedroom dwelling unit (the current reduced rates adopted being
         $19,500 for 2 bedroom units and $13,000 for 1 bedroom units).

    A proposed draft “Noosa Shire Council Adopted Infrastructure Charges Resolution (No.1)
    2014” is provided in Attachment 1. A copy of the document showing the proposed
    amendments made to the “Sunshine Coast Regional Council Adopted Infrastructure
    Charges Resolution (No.4) 2011” can be provided to Councillors if requested.

    The amendments proposed are minor being:

        the removal of all Sunshine Coast Council references that do not relate to The Noosa
         Plan;


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