29 June 2021
Earlier this year the NGAA made a submission to the Auditor-General’s investigation into the Administration of Commuter Car Parks Projects within the Urban Congestion Fund. The allocation of funds for these projects had been a real concern for the NGAA as there was a distinct lack of transparent process or consultation.
The Auditor-General’s findings, released on 28 June, align with our submission – this was a missed opportunity to deliver much needed infrastructure for commuters in growth areas due to lack of planning, consultation and insufficient funding allocation.
Car parking around train stations is a key issue for many NGAA Members, but the distribution of funds was done without consultation, and left councils with half-funded projects that did not match their planned infrastructure priorities.
The report has found that:
The Auditor-General has made a series of recommendations to the Department, but the risk of more of these sorts of decisions being made in the lead up to the next election is again high. That’s why the NGAA is running Commitment Watch during the next federal election campaign – so that we can track the promises made by the Government and Opposition and hold them to account in future.
In light of the Climate Council’s recent report, ‘Next Stop Suburbia: Making Shared Transport Work for Everyone in Aussie Cities’, it is clear we need to address the growing demand for improved public and active transport in Australia’s fastest-growing outer cities and suburbs. The daily struggle of residents in these areas is a stark reminder that funding for public and active transport must be prioritised to ensure sustainable growth and improved quality of life.
Read moreOur submission on the Telecommunications in New Developments (TiND) policy has successfully informed national principles that will improve mobile connectivity in new developments and growth areas.
Developed by the Mobile Telecommunications Working Group established by the Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP, the principles will ensure larger telecommunications infrastructure is included in the planning process for new developments and growth areas.
Penrith City Council sought a more efficient way to manage development contributions. They found the perfect solution in Novoplan’s software, which streamlined management and improved financial oversight, efficiency, compliance, and transparency.
Read moreNational settlement forecasting is a crucial tool in the pursuit of creating resilient, liveable and thriving communities, particularly in Australia's fastest-growing outer metropolitan cities and suburbs.
Accurate settlement forecasting enables forward planning, ensuring that essential infrastructure and services are delivered in a timely and efficient way to meet current and future demands.
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