This South Jerrabomberra park is among the facilities covered under a new infrastructure agreement. Photo: Thomas Lucraft.
A Capital country council has formally endorsed a mechanism to take over infrastructure at a major southern NSW development.
At a recent meeting, Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council (QPRC) formally adopted a system for accepting the dedication of public facilities (such as parks and other community infrastructure).
Under the Work-in-Kind agreement (WIKA), developers can deliver infrastructure or dedicate land.
Council meeting papers state that it’s hoped the agreement will clear the way for the council to accept infrastructure items within South Jerrabomberra at Tralee.
“The proposed WIKA seeks only to formalise the mechanism for the dedication of community infrastructure/facilities that council has already agreed to accept,” the documents say.
“Under the terms of the proposed WIKA, council’s reasonable, evidenced costs of negotiating the terms of the deed are to be covered by the developer.”
During the discussion, Mayor Kenrick Winchester praised the public infrastructure in the development.
“As someone who’s been to the dog park, been to the community centre, been to the new town park, they’re just about the best in the entire council area and I congratulate the developer on the work they’ve done there,” he said.
“I’m actually very jealous of some of the stuff they have there compared to what we have out at Googong.”
The draft document, consisting of more than 50 pages, says the WIKA is expected to apply to a range of infrastructure.
It means it is set to cover existing infrastructure (such as the town park and community centre, on more than 2.5 hectares) as well as “future” local parks.
According to the WIKA, two more parks are listed for delivery, by December 2028 and December 2030.
Councillor Katrina Willis called for councillors to be involved in the development of projects as they were being designed.
She said this was important as this WIKA formalised a pathway for the infrastructure to “become our facilities”.
“[For] the growing list of new facilities that we have to manage, they have to be right for the community, from our point of view,” Cr Willis said.
“We’re the ones responsible for running them and depreciating them. I do hope that that will happen.”
A spokesperson for the developer of South Jerrabombera, The Village Building Co, told Region the company welcomed the WIKA’s adoption, and said it represented a chance to collaborate with QPRC on the overall development.
“We’re proud of the high‑quality facilities we are delivering for the South Jerrabomberra community, and we appreciate council’s recognition of the value these assets bring to the region.
“The WIKA provides a clear framework that supports the ongoing delivery by The Village Building Co of community infrastructure in South Jerrabomberra at Tralee. Our focus remains on creating family-friendly and welcoming spaces that the community embrace and love using.”
