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Key Guidance

Contributions and public benefit

Learn about the different ways infrastructure for growing communities is funded.

Infrastructure funding policies 

Infrastructure is key to the liveability of communities and helps to create vibrant places. There are many ways infrastructure can be funded, including through infrastructure contributions by developers.

Developers make contributions to help deliver the infrastructure needed as communities grow, such as public open space, footpaths, cycleways, roads, social and community infrastructure and stormwater management. 

View information on the policies

Local infrastructure contributions

Local infrastructure contributions, also known as developer contributions, are charged by   
councils when new development occurs.

View information on local infrastructure contributions

Housing and productivity contribution (HPC)

A housing and productivity contribution (HPC) applies in the Greater Sydney, Illawarra Shoalhaven, Lower Hunter and Central Coast regions.

Contributions collected help to deliver essential state infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, major roads, public transport infrastructure and regional open space.

View information on the HPC

Planning agreements policy

Planning agreements are a tool that allows planning authorities and developers to work together to deliver innovative infrastructure outcomes.

Planning agreements can be negotiated at both the local and state government level. They are a legal agreement between a developer and a planning authority and are usually negotiated when a developer is submitting a development application or a planning proposal.

View information on local planning agreements

View information on state voluntary planning agreements

Guidance for large-scale renewable energy projects

This guideline provides advice on how benefit-sharing can be incorporated into the consideration and delivery of large-scale renewable energy development. The approach encourages applicants to include benefit-sharing when preparing and delivering large-scale renewable energy projects.

It outlines how benefit-sharing should be incorporated into state significant development and critical state significant infrastructure applications for solar, wind and battery energy storage systems.

View the guideline

Last updated: 10/12/2025

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