What are infrastructure charges and what do these charges go towards?

Infrastructure charges are the charges levied on development for the additional demand placed on the local government trunk infrastructure networks. The current charges are specified in the Ipswich Adopted Infrastructure Charges Resolution (No.1) 2022. Council levies charges for trunk infrastructure networks for transport (roads), public parks and land for community facilities. Urban Utilities (UU) is responsible for water and sewerage infrastructure planning and charging under its Water Netserv Plan.

How are infrastructure charges for water and sewerage levied?

The Infrastructure Charges Notice issued by Council does not include levied charges payable for water supply and sewerage networks. These charges are levied by the Central SEQ Distributor-Retailer Authority, Trading as Urban Utilities (UU), which are in a separate infrastructure charges notice issued by UU.

What are charges that are levied as conditions of an approval?

Contributions may be charges or contributions that were levied as conditions on the development under Council’s Planning Scheme Policies or charges issued under former Planning Scheme Policies. These may include footpath and kerb and channel contributions in lieu of actual construction of these works.

What is the Local Government Infrastructure Plan (LGIP) and how can I view it?

The Local Government Infrastructure Plan (LGIP) is part of the Ipswich Planning Scheme and identifies the local government’s plans for trunk infrastructure that are necessary to service urban development at the desired standard of service in a coordinated, efficient and financially sustainable manner. The LGIP is contained in Part 13 of the Ipswich Planning Scheme. Alternatively, a hard copy of the Ipswich Planning Scheme can be viewed in person on the Ground Floor, 1 Nicholas Street, Ipswich.

What is the Adopted Infrastructure Charges Resolution and how can I view it?

In accordance with the Planning Act 2016, a local government may, by resolution, adopt charges for providing trunk infrastructure for development. The adopted infrastructure charges can be set equal to, or below, the maximum adopted charge in the Planning Regulation 2017. The current charges are outlined in the Ipswich Adopted Infrastructure Charges Resolution (No.1) 2022.

Who is responsible for paying infrastructure charges?

Infrastructure charges and development approvals attach to the land. They are binding on the owner and subsequent owners of the land.

If the charges were levied in accordance with an Infrastructure Charges Notice (ICN), the charges are the responsibility of the property owner at the time of payment. Payment of any unpaid charges can be claimed as a rate against the property.

If the charges or contributions were levied as a condition on the development approval, the property owner is responsible for the payment of the charges.

When are infrastructure charges payable?

An Infrastructure Charges Notice (ICN) listing any applicable infrastructure charges for the proposed development is issued with the Development Permit and is issued by Council to both the applicant and the property owner.

The timing of the payment of infrastructure charges levied by Urban Utilities (UU) is included in the Infrastructure Charges Notice issued by them.

Infrastructure charges will be due and payable according to the trigger for payment outlined in the ICN. Triggers for payment depend on the type of development and are defined in State planning legislation:

• if the charge applies for reconfiguring of a lot – when Council approves a plan of the reconfiguration
• if the charge applies to building work – prior to the issue of a final inspection certificate for the building works or the certificate of classification for the building work is given
• if the charges applies for a material change of use – when the change happens

or unless otherwise stated in an infrastructure agreement.

Unpaid infrastructure charges

We regularly audit our infrastructure charging system to identify unpaid infrastructure charges.

If the charges were included in an Infrastructure Charges Notice we will send you correspondence and an invoice to pay. If full payment is not made within the timeframe set out in the invoice, the unpaid infrastructure charges may be transferred to the rates account for the property.

If the charges were levied as conditions of an approval or in accordance with Council’s earlier Planning Scheme policies, then you will first receive a letter and an invoice to pay. If payment is not received within the due date on the invoice you may receive a Show Cause Notice which will request you to show cause to Council as to why an Enforcement Notice should not be issued to you. If the response to the Show Cause Notice is unsatisfactory, we may then issue you with an Enforcement Notice. This notice requires you to comply with the conditions of the approval by making payment of the unpaid infrastructure charges. If payment is not made in response to an Enforcement Notice, we may begin legal proceedings to recover the unpaid infrastructure charges.

How can I pay my infrastructure charges?

If you have not received an invoice to pay you must request an invoice before paying infrastructure charges or contributions by completing the following form. Please do not use your ICN to pay your charges. You can make a request for an infrastructure charges invoice or contributions invoice if the infrastructure charges or contributions will become payable within 30 days of the making the request. To avoid delays, check the payment due date on the invoice prior to attempting to pay the charges. If the date has passed, you will need to request a new invoice.

Council only accepts payment for infrastructure charges or contributions by way of Bank Cheque, Cash or Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). Personal and/or company cheques will not be accepted as payment for infrastructure charges or contributions. For more information regarding payment options and details of EFT payments, email iccpdbusinesssupport@ipswich.qld.gov.au