Special infrastructure contributions

What is a SIC?

A special infrastructure contribution (SIC) is determined under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. It is one way the NSW Government ensures funding is available for key state and regional infrastructure required to support growing communities, allowing priority infrastructure to be delivered at the same time as development.

A SIC is paid by developers within a defined special contributions area (SCA) to help fund infrastructure delivery. This contribution helps to support key infrastructure such as state and regional roads, open space, schools and health facilities.

There are currently two active special contributions areas: the Western Sydney Growth Areas and Western Sydney Aerotropolis. Eight SCAs were repealed on 1 October 2023 with the introduction of the Housing and Productivity Contribution (HPC). The HPC now applies in all former SIC areas except Western Sydney Aerotropolis and Western Sydney Growth Areas.

The HPC applies to development applications for new residential, commercial and industrial development (including complying development and state significant development) in the Greater Sydney, Lower Hunter, Central Coast and Illawarra-Shoalhaven regions.

Funds collected under the system help to deliver essential infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, major roads, public transport infrastructure and regional open space to create vibrant, liveable communities.

A new approach to state infrastructure contributions called the Housing and Productivity Contribution was introduced 1 October 2023.

Nominations open for SIC Round 6

Eligible state agencies and councils in the Western Sydney Growth Areas are invited to nominate infrastructure projects for Round 6 of the SIC funding program.

Find out more

Couple walking in a residential area in Westmead, Western Sydney NSW. Credit: NSW Department of Planning and Environment / Adam Hollingworth

What do SICs deliver?

A SIC is paid by the developer in Special Contributions Areas and only on new additional development. The Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure ensures contributions are reasonable and relate only to new growth.

SIC user guidelines

The guidelines provide step-by-step information about how to make a SIC contribution and all other process details, development consent and complying development certificates, with handy examples of application documents.

Read the Special infrastructure contributions user guidelines (PDF, 9 MB).

The guidelines detail the approach taken by the department relating to works-in-kind agreements and their ongoing management.

Projects funded by SICs

The NSW Government had collected more than $640 million in SICs as of June 2024.

The department works closely with state agencies and local councils to maintain a rolling pipeline of SIC investment.

The SICs program has contributed $418 million towards building or upgrading infrastructure, and developers have provided works valued at another $441 million in place of cash payments.

Funded projects

Planning or delivering new or upgraded roads

Sites secured for future schools

855 ha

Protection of native vegetation in Western Sydney

Use the map to see all projects in planning, completed or in progress.

Paying a SIC

Paying a SIC is a condition of consent for some developments. To confirm if a SIC applies to your development, use the interactive ePlanning Spatial Viewer on the SIC Online Service. It also allows you to calculate the charge, request an assessment and communicate with the department.

Please register to start the process.

Visit the SIC Online Service

Special contribution areas

Active

Western Sydney Aerotropolis

The SIC will collect up to $1.1 billion to help fund state and regional roads, cycleways and footpaths, regional open space, hospitals, primary and secondary schools, train stations and bus depots, emergency services, cultural facilities and biodiversity.

Western Sydney Growth Areas

The SIC will help fund state and regional roads, primary and secondary schools, emergency services and justice, regional open space and biodiversity, health services and bus services.

Repealed

The following SICs have been replaced by the Housing and Productivity Contribution.

A family relax on the grass in Arncliffe Park, Arncliffe, NSW. Credit: NSW Department of Planning and Environment / Adam Hollingworth

Bayside West

The SIC has helped fund state and regional roads, cycleways and footpaths, regional open space and schools.

Children play on a playground at Reddall Reserve, Lake Illawarra. Credit: NSW Department of Planning and Environment

Illawarra Shoalhaven

The SIC has helped to fund state and regional roads, cycleways and footpaths, regional open space, fire station and community health facilities, primary and secondary schools and biodiversity.

Gosford City Centre

The SIC has contributed to road network upgrades, upgrades to Kibble Park, and health, education and emergency services facilities.

Pirrama Park on Sydney Harbour, Pyrmont. Credit: James Horan; Destination NSW

Pyrmont Peninsula

The SIC has helped to fund the Pyrmont Metro station and associated infrastructure.

Frenchs Forest

The SIC has helped to fund state and regional roads, primary and secondary schools, public transport and cycleways, footpaths and green links.

Outside of Gosford train station. Gosford, NSW. Credit: NSW Department of Planning and Environment / Don Fuchs

Warnervale Town Centre

The SIC has helped to fund state and regional roads, biodiversity offsets, planning, delivery, implementation and bus services.

Central Coast Highway near Erina, NSW. Credit: NSW Department of Planning and Environment / Don Fuchs

Wyong Employment Zone

The SIC has helped to fund state and regional roads, planning, delivery, and implementation.

Graveyard. St Thomas Rest Park off West St, St Leonards, North Sydney, NSW. Credit: NSW Department of Planning and Environment / Adam Hollingworth

St Leonards and Crows Nest

The SIC has helped to fund road crossing improvements, education, open space and pedestrian and cycle improvements.

Draft SICs

The following draft SICs have been replaced by the Housing and Productivity Contribution.

Greater Macarthur

The proposed SIC was designed to help fund state and regional roads, public transport corridors, schools, community health facilities, emergency services and police stations and biodiversity conservation.

People walk or ride their bicycles along the boardwalk at Honeysuckle Precinct. Newcastle, NSW. Credit: NSW Department of Planning and Environment / Jaime Plaza Van Roon

Hunter region

The proposed SIC was designed to fund building and upgrading roads, schools, and health and emergency service facilities.

North West Growth Area

The proposed SIC was designed to help fund roads and bridges, public transport infrastructure, cycling and pedestrian infrastructure, education facilities, health facilities, emergency services and justice, regional open space and biodiversity conservation.

Rhodes

The proposed SIC was designed to help fund road and open space improvements to support development in the area.

Wilton

The proposed SIC was designed to help fund roads, bridges, cycleways, biodiversity, regional open space, education, bus infrastructure, health facilities and emergency services.

More information

For more information, including information on previous SICs exhibited, contact us and ask for the Infrastructure and Place team.