UDIA thanks Shoalhaven City Council (SCC) for the opportunity to comment on the amendment
to their policy for Section 64 Contributions for Water and Sewer Headworks (“S64 policy”)
from the 2025/26 financial year.
Over the past 3 years, UDIA has consistently advocated to government on the cost pressures
facing the urban development industry, which is creating a challenging environment for the
market to deliver a product that is feasible from a financing perspective, or desirable from a
consumer’s perspective. Each condition and cost that is placed on the development industry
may individually serve a purpose or appear justifiable, however the cumulative impact of
these charges quickly becomes a burden on feasibility and a disincentive to housing
development.
Unfortunately, SCC is looking to increase s64 charges by removing discounts in one of the
most unfavourable market cycles, which will put a handbrake on new developments in the
Shoalhaven Local Government Area at the same time Council is attempting to reach record
levels of housing delivery. For this reason, UDIA cannot support the proposed s64
amendments, and offers recommendations in our submission to support a more balanced
policy outcome.
Our full submission can be found at the Download LInk below