Planning and Development Fund

1421 The Hon. A. PICCOLO (Light) (24 September 2019). 2019-20 Budget Paper No. 4, Vol. 3, p. 175 contains a line reference for grants and subsidies outflows from the Planning and Development Fund. The figures listed have fluctuated from approx. $38.5 million in 2017-18 down to $16.6 million in 2018-19 and a forecast of $19.9 million for this year. What explains these fluctuations, and can you guarantee that the fund is being exclusively used for open and public space projects, as intended?

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL (Schubert—Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Local Government, Minister for Planning): I have been advised the following—

The 2017-18 actual includes $20.3m of grants from the 2016-17 round of Open Space and Places For People programs that were approved by the Minister and agreed to with councils in 2016-17 but paid in 2017-18. Additionally $1.9m was brought forward from 2018-19 to 2017-18 to fund open space and public realm election commitments.

Much of the revenue into the fund is collected from land divisions and community title divisions (where 12.5 per cent open space is not provided as part of the development) for the provision of open space and improvements to public realm. Expenditure budgets through Treasury are based on the revenue anticipated to be collected.

The fund is not intended only to fund open and public space projects. Section 195 of the PDI Act sets out the manner in which the minister may use the fund, including for:

Acquisition, management or development of land

Payment of money which the minister becomes liable to pay under the act

Payment of rates, taxes or other charges due and payable by the minister in respect of land vested in or held by the Minister

Transfer to any reserve for the repayment of money borrowed by the minister for the purposes of this act

Payment of principal, interest or expenses in respect of money borrowed by the minister for the purposes of this act

Management and development of property vested in the minister

Any purposes authorised by or under this act (including by regulation) as a purpose for which the fund may be applied

Assistance to councils in the provision and development of public land for conservation and recreation

Assistance or grants to a joint planning board or another entity acting under this act or under the Urban Renewal Act 1995

The above provisions have been carried over from section 81 of the Development Act 1993 and are fundamentally unchanged.

Clause 111 of the current Development Regulations 2008 further authorises the use of the fund to promote or complement policies contained in the Planning Strategy (30-Year Plan for Greater Adelaide 2017 Update and regional plans).