NSW Regional Infrastructure Coordination. Local Government NSW Finance Summit 12 Sep 17

Transcription

1 NSW Regional Infrastructure Coordination Local Government NSW Finance Summit 12 Sep 17

2 Background Commenced Review 20 Feb 17 Appointment publically announced by Premier and Deputy Premier 9 Mar 17 Independent Study Reporting directly to Premier and Deputy Premier Report handed to Premier and deputy Premier 30 May 17 Cabinet Consideration 17 Aug 17

3 Purpose of Review To report to Government on whether it is meeting its infrastructure commitments to Regional NSW: Identify opportunities to improve processes, including approval processes. The review did not consider metropolitan infrastructure.

4 Methodology Literature review of Government sources (no single repository of infrastructure projects or their owners). Face to Face and correspondence engagement with Ministers and Backbench MPs (no requests for engagement from opposition or other party MPs). Face to Face and correspondence engagement with senior Departmental officials and Board of insw. Extensive Regional visit program with Face to Face and correspondence engagement with LGA, ROC, LGA and RDA organisations. Formal written submissions from a broad range of Stakeholders. Face to Face meetings with key industry representatives and SMEs.

5 Key Recommendations 34 Recommendations based on the themes raised by key stakeholders: WATER Security, Quality, Agriculture and Amenity. Project Approval Timelines too long, too complex, inhibitor to investment, trumped by other States. Energy Cost of connection to greenfield development, consumption cost rises, brown outs, baseload power. Treasury Guidelines interpretation, BCR inflexibility on amenity, health and safety, net gain vs net loss, cross border. Communications Mobile blackspots, broadband, narrow band, agri-tools. Bureaucracy Stovepipes, lack of coordination, no concurrency, transparency. Grants Environment complex, expensive, time consuming. Land Claims/Native Title complex and time consuming, even where good will exists. Federal/State Grants funding and alignment It's cheaper and more productive to do it with the Feds! Road and Rail Infrastructure Great Dividing Range, freight rail, transparency of priorities. State and Local Government Relations - LGAs are a wholly owned and guaranteed entity of the NSW Government. Boundary Alignments LGA, ROC, RDA, RMS, Health, DPC etc.

6 Local Government Issues Key themes raised by stakeholders : Lets Discuss Regions WATER Security, Quality, Agriculture LGAs vs ROCs and or Amenity. JOs Project Treasury Approval Guidelines Timelines too long, too complex, inhibitor to investment, Corridor trumped and Regional by other States. Strategies Energy Transparency Cost of connection of tasks to greenfield and priorities development, consumption cost rises, brown outs, CENTROC/CBR baseload power. JO Example Treasury and MCA Guidelines interpretation, DPC DepSec Regional BCR inflexibility NSW on amenity, health and safety, net gain vs net loss, cross border. Communications Mobile blackspots, broadband, narrow band, agri-tools. Bureaucracy Stovepipes, lack of coordination, no concurrency, transparency. Grants Environment complex, expensive, time consuming. Land Claims/Native Title complex and time consuming, even where good will exists. Federal/State Grants funding and alignment It's cheaper and more productive to do it with the Feds! Road and Rail Infrastructure Great Dividing Range, freight rail, transparency of priorities. State and Local Government Relations - LGAs are a wholly owned and guaranteed entity of the NSW Government. Boundary Alignments LGA, ROC, RDA, RMS, Health, DPC etc.

7 An Immediate Change Announced

8 Regional Growth Fund Rational Regional Development Framework Amenity for all Backing Growth Unlocking Potential Regional Enablers Work Understand your regional economy Build on Endowments and specialisation Plan around enablers Improve the Process Greater certainty for applicants Move away from beauty contests and rounds where possible Place based Assist regions to get applications right first time Maintain strong governance

9 Economic Activation Fund

10 Community Amenity Funds

11 Conclusion and Questions