Update

The Botany Bay s.94A Development Contributions Plan was officially amended on 24 August 2022. To view the amended Plan, click here.

Background

The City of Botany Bay s.94A Development Contributions Plan 2016 (The Plan) became effective on 22 June 2016. The Work Schedule in the Plan outlines the projects that the Plan intends to fund using developer contributions collected under the Plan.

The Botany Aquatic Centre project is a major council initiative and is intended to meet the needs of the existing and future population. The upgrade of the Botany Aquatic Centre is included in the Work Schedule with an estimated cost of $28.145 million which was calculated when the Plan was drafted.

The cost of the Botany Aquatic Centre upgrade project has increased significantly since the Plan was prepared. There have been particularly sharp increases in the cost of construction over the last 12 months due to various world economic disruptions. The current estimate for the entire project (stages 1 and 2) is $53,545,972 (ex GST).

Proposed Amendment

Clause 2.15 of the Plan envisages that infrastructure or land costs will change in a manner different to the consumer price index and consequently will need to be adjusted from time to time. Therefore Council can review the Plan as required “so as to ensure that the Plan remains financially sustainable, addresses the demands generated by development and so that facilities can be provided in a reasonable time”.

While the contributions paid by developers are indexed and interest is earnt on funds collected, the cost of projects set out in the Work Schedule in the Plan is not indexed. In order for the Plan to contribute an amount that reflects the actual cost of the project, it is proposed to amend the project cost in the Work Schedule in the Plan to $53,545,972.

Contributions Pooling

Clause 3.14 of the Plan authorises for levies paid for different purposes within the Plan to be pooled and applied progressively to priority projects.

Council has prioritised the Botany Aquatic Centre project, and the pooling of funds for this purpose will not ultimately prejudice the implementation of other projects within the Works Schedule. There is a sufficient total balance in the Plan to fund Botany Aquatic Centre at 31% of $53,545,972 if funds are pooled.

On 24 August 2022, Council resolved:

1. That Council endorses the City of Botany Bay s.94A Development Contributions Plan 2016 is amended to update the current cost of the Botany Aquatic Centre project and the amendment be placed on public exhibition for 28 days.

The draft Amendment and Table of Changes

You can view the draft Amendment here and the table of changes here.

Have Your Say

You can submit your feedback in the following ways:

• Online: Use the submission form below.

• Mail: Post your submission to Att: Maritza Abra, Bayside Council, PO Box 21 Rockdale 2216

Submissions close Sunday 25 September 2022.