Proposed changes to the Business Investment Policy and Tweed Road Contribution Plan

Tweed Shire Council is inviting you to provide feedback on proposed changes to two key documents: the Business Investment Policy and the Tweed Road Contribution Plan.

Following a review of the Business Investment Policy, we are proposing changes to the way that business incentives are applied to developer charges for Complying Development Certificates (CDCs).

If you're a business owner or development professional operating in the Tweed, we invite you to review the proposed changes and provide feedback.

What this policy covers

This Business Investment Policy outlines Council incentives to encourage the development of new businesses and the expansion of existing businesses. These incentives are related to developer charges and contributions.

The current version (v2.0) of the Business Investment Policy offers four incentive streams:

1. High Consumption Charge (Water / Sewer) Incentive
2. Developer Contributions – Incentives
3. Eligible Business Enterprise - Small Business Incentive
4. Deferred Payments Incentives

What’s changed

Council is amending the policy to make more businesses eligible for discounts to development contributions. The proposed changes clarify what discounts businesses are entitled to and when a quote for a development contribution is required.

The specific changes include:

• Clarification that discounts to developer contributions under Streams 2 and 3 are available to both CDC applications and Development applications
• Further clarification that Stream 4 is not available to CDC applications
• A request that certifiers seek quotes for developer contributions prior to a CDC being issued under Streams 2 and 3

The proposed amendments also relate to Council’s Tweed Road Contribution Plan (TRCP), which will need to be updated in line with the revised policy.

The specific changes to the TRCP include:

• Updating the Plan (Section 3.1) to remove references connecting the eligibility of certain concessions under the Business Investment Policy (BIP) to Development Applications, when such concessions may also now be applicable under Complying Development Certificate (CDC) applications.
• Updating Schedule 7 of the Plan to clarify the process to seek a discount to contributions under this Plan, when eligible for a concession under the BIP
• Updating Schedule 9 of the Plan to reflect the adopted Business Investment Policy (with the draft on concurrent exhibition)
• General housekeeping in terms of correcting formatting errors in the plan

Background

Over the past five years, the NSW Government has made considerable changes to the size and scale of developments in employment zones that are eligible as complying development. Businesses pursuing this approval pathway do not require a development application but instead must seek an application for a CDC. Developer contributions are still applicable to a CDC.

Have your say

This Policy and Plan are now on public exhibition. You are invited to let us know your thoughts on these important documents before 4 pm on 4 July 2025.

Submissions must be made in writing.

• Online: Using the 'Make a Submission' form below
• Email: tsc@tweed.nsw.gov.au Subject: Proposed changes to Business Investment Policy and Tweed Road Contribution Plan
• By mail: The General Manager, Tweed Shire Council, PO Box 816 Murwillumbah NSW 2484

It should be noted that in accordance with Council policy and the provisions of the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 – ‘GIPAA,’ confidential information contained within submissions may be released upon a request being made by a third party.