Infrastructure planning and delivery—as difficult as it may be—is fundamental to a functioning modern city.
The relegation of infrastructure funding and delivery considerations to the end of the planning process has led to much publicised delays in providing the right roads, parks and schools to support our growing communities. Even major projects like Sydney Metro are only now reviewing the need for new funding sources, years after their announcement.
Within New South Wales’ notorious planning system, its infrastructure funding system holds a special level of complexity. Once developers and governments alike begin to understand the intricacies of the system, it becomes clear that the planning for funding and delivery of infrastructure needs to be completed in the right manner, at the right time. The introduction of new charges like the Housing and Productivity Contributions and Sydney Water DSP charges also needs to be supported by a corresponding review of infrastructure delivery processes.