Accelerated infrastructure stimulus program for Inner West
Thursday 2 July 2020
Inner West Council will fast track $20 million in infrastructure projects, creating jobs and supporting the local community.
At a recent Council meeting, Council resolved to pool its developer contributions reserves and accelerate $20 million for the delivery of projects such as road, footpath and stormwater works.
Other accelerated projects include installing new shade sails at Council’s aquatic centres, traffic calming works, new bike paths, increased tree planting, solar installations and water sensitive design works.
In celebrating this investment, Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne noted that the stimulus provided by Council was more than the NSW and Federal Governments had provided to help the local economy.
“I wrote to the Premier and Prime Minister in April calling on them to provide a New Deal for Local Government. Disappointingly, no additional infrastructure funding has been provided by the NSW Government, and the Federal Government has only provided a very modest boost in capital,” said Mayor Byrne.
“Council’s investment in basic infrastructure like this will make our community safer, more accessible and make our local environment healthier for decades to come.
“It will leave the ratepayers of the Inner West in a stronger position for the long term.
“These projects will all provide an immediate boost to local employment and help combat the economic crisis that COVID-19 has created,” said Mayor Byrne.
Council currently has 23 separate developer contributions reserves, with a current balance of over $53 million.
Twenty million dollars of unspent developer contributions will be earmarked for the accelerated infrastructure stimulus program.
The initiative is in line with a Direction from the NSW Government.
Last month the Minister issued the Direction which called on local councils to pool collected contributions and progressively spend them, in a clear effort to support communities and create jobs.
Council identified projects that have a short project delivery timeframe, focused on asset renewal and had previously been prioritised by Council.
For a full list of the fast tracked projects, contact the Communication team.
For media enquiries, contact Elizabeth Heath, Media and Communications Coordinator, 9392 5334, Elizabeth.Heath@innerwest.nsw.gov.au