State Voluntary Planning Agreements

Infrastructure funding

New building under construction at Sydney Business Park. Marsden Park, Sydney, NSW. Credit: NSW Department of Planning and Environment / Don Fuchs

Development contributions help cover the cost of delivering infrastructure needed to support new businesses, communities and homes.

Planning agreements are a method of securing these contributions. A planning agreement is a legal agreement between a developer and a planning authority, such as the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, or local councils.

The development contributions system operates under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. Planning agreements can deliver or fund:

  • public amenities and services
  • affordable housing
  • transport or other infrastructure
  • conservation or enhancement of the natural environment.

The applicant is required to meet the cost of preparing the legal agreements. 

Planning agreements with the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure are referred to as State Voluntary Planning Agreements (SVPA) to differentiate them from local council planning agreements.

Applicants can refer to our State Voluntary Planning Agreements process guide (PDF, 431 KB) for further details.

The department runs a competitive grant program to disburse these funds by inviting councils and agencies to nominate state and regional infrastructure projects in their areas.

To contact us about the funding program, email the team at [email protected]

Round 4 grants awarded

Successful projects under Round 4 of the SVPA Funding Program were announced in November 2024. A total of $55.1 million in grant funding will be awarded to local councils and Transport for NSW for 21 projects across 5 regions.

RegionNumber of projectsRecipientsAvailable funds
Illawarra2

Transport for NSW

Wollongong City Council

$5.5 million
Lower Hunter8

Cessnock City Council

Lake Macquarie City Council

Maitland City Council

Transport for NSW

$16.1 million
North West Growth Area2The Hills Shire Council$3.2 million
South West Growth Area2Camden Council$4.2 million
Wollondilly7

Transport for NSW

Wollondilly Shire Council

$26.1 million

The projects range in value from $500,000 to $5 million and will be delivered by June 2028. They will support the delivery of up to 28,100 new homes over the 5 years to 2029.

The funding round was announced in April 2024 and was open to 12 councils and Transport for NSW across 6 regions, including the Central Coast. Assessments were finalised and investment recommendations were approved by the Minister for Planning in October 2024.

Projects funded by SVPA

As of September 2024, over $320 million in cash contributions have been collected from developers through SVPAs.

The department works closely with state agencies and local councils to maintain a rolling pipeline of infrastructure investment that supports new housing and employment lands where these funds are collected.

Over $209 million has been invested in 52 projects since 2005.

Project Round/Year Applicant LGA Project status Details
Albion Park to Yallah Spine Road Round 4 – 2023/24 Transport for NSW Wollongong In planning
Alton Road intersection upgrade – land acquisition and construction Round 2 – 2020/21 Lake Macquarie City Council Lake Macquarie Complete
Archbold Road upgrade –planning and design Round 1 – 2010–19 (Rolling) Transport for NSW Blacktown Complete
Box Hill Regional Hockey Centre – design and construction Round 3 – 2021/22 The Hills Shire Council The Hills In construction
Cessnock Fire Station – land acquisition Round 2 – 2020/21 Fire Rescue NSW Cessnock Complete
Cumberland Plain Conservation Plan Round 2 – 2020/21 Biodiversity Conservation Trust of NSW Various across Western Sydney In planning
Darkes District Sporting and Community Hub Stage 2 construction Round 4 – 2023/24 Wollongong City Council Wollongong In planning
Dickson Road upgrade –design and business cases Round 2 – 2020/21 Camden Council Camden In design
Erskine Park Link Road – planning and design Round 1 – 2010–19 (Rolling) Transport for NSW Blacktown Complete
Fowlers Road Bridge – planning and design Round 1 – 2010–19 (Rolling) Wollongong City Council Wollongong Complete
Greater Warnervale transport masterplan Round 2 – 2020/21 Transport for NSW Central Coast In planning
Hill Road and John Wing intersection upgrade – land transfer Round 1 – 2010–19 (Rolling) Planning Ministerial Corporation City of Parramatta Complete
Implementation of Thirlmere Memorial Park and Sportsground Master Plan (Multi-purpose Building) Round 4 – 2023/24 Wollondilly Shire Council Wollondilly In planning
Louisiana Road drainage upgrade – construction Round 2 – 2020/21 Central Coast Council Central Coast Complete
M1 Princes Motorway - Figtree to Dapto – business case Round 2 – 2020/21 Transport for NSW Wollongong Complete
Main Road (MR195) upgrade – business case and planning Round 2 – 2020/21 Transport for NSW Cessnock and Maitland In planning
Main Road and Dora Street intersection upgrade – business case Round 1 – 2010–19 (Rolling) Transport for NSW Lake Macquarie Complete
Main Road, Cessnock upgrade – options investigation Round 1 – 2010–19 (Rolling) Transport for NSW Cessnock Complete
Maitland Rd and Old Maitland Rd intersection upgrade, East Cessnock Round 4 – 2023/24 Transport for NSW Cessnock In planning
Mamre Road Upgrade (Stage 2) – business case Round 3 – 2021/22 Transport for NSW Penrith In design
Myall Road intersection upgrade Round 4 – 2023/24 Lake Macquarie City Council Lake Macquarie In planning
Newcastle Link Road and Minmi Road intersection upgrade – business case Round 1 – 2010–19 (Rolling) Transport for NSW Lake Macquarie Complete
North Cooranbong biodiversity offsets Round 2 – 2020/21 Biodiversity Conservation Trust of NSW Lake Macquarie Complete
Northcliffe Drive extension – business case and design Round 2 – 2020/21 Wollongong City Council Wollongong Complete
Northern Road and Bradley Street intersection upgrade – construction Round 3 – 2021/22 Transport for NSW Penrith Complete
Old Wallgrove Road upgrade – construction Round 1 – 2010–19 (Rolling) Transport for NSW Blacktown Complete
Pacific Highway and Chain Valley Bay Road upgrade –business case Round 2 – 2020/21 Transport for NSW Central Coast Complete
Park and Ride facility – John Renshaw Drive Round 4 – 2023/24 Transport for NSW Cessnock In planning
Park and Ride facility – MR195 Heddon Greta Round 4 – 2023/24 Transport for NSW Cessnock In planning
Park and Ride facility – MR220 Wine Country Drive, Branxton Round 4 – 2023/24 Transport for NSW Cessnock In planning
Park Road upgrade and culvert works in Leppington Round 4 – 2023/24 Camden Council Camden In planning
Picton multideck carpark Round 4 – 2023/24 Wollondilly Shire Council Wollondilly In planning
Picton Road and Hume Highway Intersection upgrade – business case, planning and design Round 2 – 2020/21 Transport for NSW Wollondilly Complete
Pitt Town Road intersection – design and construction Round 1 – 2010–19 (Rolling) Transport for NSW Hawkesbury Complete
Rainforest Street Reserve district-level embellishment Round 4 – 2023/24 The Hills Shire Council The Hills In planning
Raymond Terrace Road, Metford Road and Thornton Area transport masterplan Round 2 – 2020/21 Transport for NSW Maitland Complete
Richmond Road Stage 3 Round 4 – 2023/24 Transport for NSW Blacktown In design
Richmond Road upgrade – construction Round 1 – 2010–19 (Rolling) Transport for NSW Blacktown Complete
Signalisation of the intersection of Heath Road and Byron Road Round 4 – 2023/24 Camden Council Camden In planning
Silverdale Active transport improvements Round 4 – 2023/24 Wollondilly Shire Council Wollondilly In planning
Southern Link Road – planning and design Round 1 – 2010–19 (Rolling) Transport for NSW Fairfield, Penrith and Blacktown In design
Springfield Road upgrade – businesses cases and design Round 2 – 2020/21 Camden Council Camden In design
The Water Lane – unfunded midblock (east) Round 4 – 2023/24 The Hills Shire Council The Hills In planning
Thirlmere Park – identification, purchase and master plan Round 4 – 2023/24 Wollondilly Shire Council Wollondilly In planning
Thirlmere to Tahmoor shared pathway Round 4 – 2023/24 Wollondilly Shire Council Wollondilly In planning
Thornton North Road infrastructure including the Haussman Drive and Taylor Avenue roundabout Round 4 – 2023/24 Maitland City Council Maitland In planning
Tripoli Way extension – land acquisition, planning and design Round 2 – 2020/21 Shellharbour City Council Shellharbour In planning
Warragamba Sportsground master plan works – new multi-purpose clubhouse with canteen, storage and amenities Round 4 – 2023/24 Wollondilly Shire Council Wollondilly In planning
Wilton Junction – planning Round 1 – 2010–19 (Rolling) Wollondilly Shire Council Wollondilly Complete
Wilton Town Centre Access and Link Road Round 4 – 2023/24 Transport for NSW Wollondilly In planning
Wollombi Road upgrade intersection works – Stage 1 Round 4 – 2023/24 Cessnock City Council Cessnock In planning
Wyee Road and Alliance Avenue intersection upgrade Round 4 – 2023/24 Lake Macquarie City Council Lake Macquarie In planning

Satisfactory arrangements

The majority of SVPAs entered into by the department relate to a clause in councils’ Local Environmental Plans, which require the developer to make satisfactory arrangements for the provision of state infrastructure to service their development. These clauses require the infrastructure (or contribution towards its cost) to be secured before a planning authority can provide consent for development.

In most cases, a planning agreement must be in effect prior to certifying that satisfactory arrangements have been made.

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Preparing a SVPA

To assist developers to enter into a SVPA the department has developed a digital service to expedite and streamline the process. This new online service enables developers and relevant parties to lodge and track applications with the department online via the NSW Planning Portal.

To contact us about a proposed development that may require a SVPA, please email the team at [email protected]

SVPA Digital Service

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SVPA register

All SVPAs are publicly notified and made available for public feedback before they are finalised. All SVPAs are available to view on the SVPA Register including:

SVPA Register