A report has recommended that the NSW-ACT border around a major housing development stay the same, as depicted above. Image: File.
A regional council is pushing to keep a major cross-border housing development within NSW, fielding off past calls for it to become part of Canberra — but there’s a condition.
Parkwood is the NSW component of Riverview Developments’ proposed Ginninderry cross-border development, being delivered in conjunction with the ACT Government, and is expected to feature multiple neighbourhoods and thousands of homes.
The NSW and ACT governments, along with Yass Valley Council, previously signed a ‘’Parkwood Protocol’’ agreement that will ensure residents have access to necessary services and infrastructure to live comfortably.
It had been the subject of comments from politicians about whether it should cross the border and officially join with Canberra, or stay part of Yass Valley.
During a recent meeting, Yass Valley Council (YVC) voted to adopt the latter option as its official position.
Councillor Alvaro Charry urged his fellow councillors to keep the development as part of the local government area (LGA), despite the “complexity” it would bring.
“This decision is one of the most consequential strategic choices this elected body will make that will shape the future of the Yass Valley,” he said.
“Parkwood is not a marginal growth [area]. At full build, it represents thousands of new residents, extensive infrastructure and a fundamental change in the scale and demographics of our LGA … Growth must be managed responsibly, not deferred or outsourced.”
An ACT Government spokesperson said it “acknowledges” the decision, but still held concerns around how service delivery would work for the Parkwood section of the overall development.
The development can only be accessed by road through the ACT and is being designed to be an integrated community with ACT-style service delivery.
“Work undertaken to date has made it clear that cross-border state and municipal services provided by the ACT Government to NSW are not feasible,” the spokesperson said.
“A border adjustment would enable integrated, seamless service delivery by the ACT Government to a future housing estate in Parkwood.”
Development application processing times in the Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council average 120 days. Photo: NSW Planning Portal.
At their meeting, Yass councillors also received a report from AEC Group detailing the impacts of keeping Parkwood on their bottom line.
“The bottom-up financial modelling indicates that it is more advantageous for YVC to retain the Parkwood development within the Yass Valley area, provided that YVC implements an appropriate SRV or equivalent differential rating strategy,” the document says.
“Parkwood offers YVC a substantial and growing revenue base that can support higher service levels, contribute positively to operating surpluses and underpin a strong cash position.”
The report found that without a Special Rate Variation (SRV), Parkwood is expected to show an operating deficit in the early development stages.
If an SRV of 20 or 40 per cent is brought in, the development is expected to transition to a “sustained surplus” by the time Parkwood is “substantially developed”.
The report also warned that the council could face a “missed opportunity” of economic development should Parkwood be handed over to the ACT.
Cr Charry described this potential SRV as “not an optional extra” for the future of Parkwood.
He said that without it, other residents of Yass Valley would be hit with the costs of the higher service delivery and that it would be key in ensuring YVC’s financial sustainability.
A desire to keep Parkwood was echoed by Cr David Carter, who said the report showed the financial risks of keeping the development in the LGA came with financial benefits.
“It would pose some other challenges, potentially around questions like elections … but that’s dealt with in many spaces and is quite common in a number of jurisdictions, as well,” Cr Carter said.
“What it would do is give us, at least, a new income stream. Income [and] revenue streams are really important ways to channel growth more generally.”
Mayor Jasmin Jones said she welcomed the prospect of about 6000 new homes in the LGA.
“It is an exciting prospect … It’s approximately 30,000 community members,” Cr Jones said.
“The diversity in what we’re seeing already rolling out in the area, the vibrancy that’s bringing to that community … [is] exciting.”
The council meeting also heard that planning work on a possible development contributions scheme was ongoing.
Following the meeting, a spokesperson for Riverview Projects reaffirmed the company’s commitment to the development.
“As development manager for the Ginninderry Joint Venture, Riverview Projects has been working to deliver Ginninderry as a cross-border residential area, which was envisioned in the plans for the joint venture in 2016 and subsequent masterplans,” the spokesperson told Region.
“Riverview Projects will continue to progress housing and urban development for Ginninderry within the relevant planning frameworks.”
