06 September 2023
2 min read
#Property, Planning & Development
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The Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment (Housing and Productivity Contributions) Bill 2023 was assented on 13 July 2023 (Bill). The Bill changes how contributions for state infrastructure is levied by establishing a Housing and Productivity Contribution (HPC).
The HPC proposes to replace the Special Infrastructure Contribution which funds state and regional infrastructure. The HPC will apply to applications for a development consent and a complying development made on or after 1 October 2023.
The contribution rates for the HPC will be indexed quarterly using the ABS PPI index and they are set to commence as follows:
For residential subdivision development, the HPC must be paid before a subdivision certificate is issued. For commercial, retail and industrial development involving construction only, the contribution must be paid before a construction certificate is issued.
A 50 per cent discount will apply to HPC due on or before 30 June 2024. That discount will then be reduced to 25 per cent for HPC due between 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025. A full contribution will come into effect for HPC due on or after 1 July 2025.
More information in relation to the Bill can be found here.
In order to obtain a strata certificate, a developer needs to obtain approval for the subdivision.
Usually this approval is obtained by obtaining a complying development certificate issued by an accredited certifier. The complying development certificate can be obtained provided that the building consent was granted in the past five years and that the proposed subdivision does not contravene the conditions of that approval.
The complying development certificate is usually obtained late in the development process when the developer is finalising the strata plan.
As currently drafted, the view of the industry is that the HPC will apply to all complying development certificates, even if it is for a strata subdivision which was based on a development consent which was issued prior to 1 October 2023.
Unless further amendments to the Bill are made developers will need to pay the HPC on any strata subdivision complying development certificate made after 1 October 2023.
We strongly recommend that any developers who have a development consent for the building speak to their certifier and try and obtain a complying development certificate for strata subdivision before 1 October 2023 to ensure that their strata subdivision is not subject to the HPC.
If you have any questions about this article or the HPC, please get in touch with a member of our team below.
Disclaimer
The information in this article is of a general nature and is not intended to address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Although we endeavour to provide accurate and timely information, we do not guarantee that the information in this article is accurate at the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future.
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