Latest news with #CDCs
The Age
11-07-2025
- Business
- The Age
NSW wants to build more apartment blocks with faster approvals. Councils aren't convinced
Potential planning reforms that would enable terrace homes and apartment blocks up to six storeys to bypass the local council development application process have been criticised by councillors as 'reckless' and 'unpalatable' as NSW grapples with the fallout of the building crisis. As the state government forges ahead with an ambitious policy agenda to boost housing stock, The Daily Telegraph on Friday reported that NSW Labor was considering changes to enable terraces, townhouses, and apartment blocks up to six storeys to be deemed 'complying developments'. Complying development certificates (CDCs) certify that a proposed development is consistent with certain criteria or standards, enabling a project to gain planning approval without going through the more extensive development application process. They are typically issued by accredited private certifiers. Acting Premier Ryan Park said the government had not announced or decided on any such reforms, but he was 'not going to make apologies … for trying to get the next generation into homes'. Senior Liberal sources told the Herald in May that changes to the complying development certificates process, which would remove councils' ability to assess projects on merit, were among numerous measures the government was considering to speed up the delivery of homes. Loading North Sydney mayor Zoe Baker believed expanding the scheme would be 'reckless when we're still dealing with a building quality crisis for the state government to consider expanding what private certifiers are doing'. 'When you think about the four and six-storey residential flat buildings that have been made permissible through the low and mid-rise housing reforms across Sydney, Newcastle and the Illawarra, that's a huge amount of development that would be approved by the private sector.' Baker said apartment blocks typically required plans and conditions around construction traffic management, waste and operating hours, which were finalised during the assessment process.
Sydney Morning Herald
11-07-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
NSW wants to build more apartment blocks with faster approvals. Councils aren't convinced
Potential planning reforms that would enable terrace homes and apartment blocks up to six storeys to bypass the local council development application process have been criticised by councillors as 'reckless' and 'unpalatable' as NSW grapples with the fallout of the building crisis. As the state government forges ahead with an ambitious policy agenda to boost housing stock, The Daily Telegraph on Friday reported that NSW Labor was considering changes to enable terraces, townhouses, and apartment blocks up to six storeys to be deemed 'complying developments'. Complying development certificates (CDCs) certify that a proposed development is consistent with certain criteria or standards, enabling a project to gain planning approval without going through the more extensive development application process. They are typically issued by accredited private certifiers. Acting Premier Ryan Park said the government had not announced or decided on any such reforms, but he was 'not going to make apologies … for trying to get the next generation into homes'. Senior Liberal sources told the Herald in May that changes to the complying development certificates process, which would remove councils' ability to assess projects on merit, were among numerous measures the government was considering to speed up the delivery of homes. Loading North Sydney mayor Zoe Baker believed expanding the scheme would be 'reckless when we're still dealing with a building quality crisis for the state government to consider expanding what private certifiers are doing'. 'When you think about the four and six-storey residential flat buildings that have been made permissible through the low and mid-rise housing reforms across Sydney, Newcastle and the Illawarra, that's a huge amount of development that would be approved by the private sector.' Baker said apartment blocks typically required plans and conditions around construction traffic management, waste and operating hours, which were finalised during the assessment process.
Scoop
28-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Solomon Islands: HKH Constituency 2025 Development Pathway Targets Empowering Communities
The Hograno-Kia-Havulei (HKH) Constituency is charting a development pathway aimed at empowering communities through strategic investments in the productive sector. Utilising the Constituency Development Funds (CDF), the initiative seeks to stimulate the local economy, improve livelihoods, and elevate socio-economic conditions at the rural level. HKH Constituency Development Officer (CDO), Apollos Manegere underscored this vision during a recent meeting with community-based Constituency Development Committees (CDCs) in Kaevanga and Kia, Isabel Province. Accompanied by a team from the Ministry of Rural Development (MRD), Mr. Manegere outlined a holistic approach to rural development, integrating social, economic, and environmental components with a focus on sustainability, community-driven solutions, and infrastructure improvements. "Enabling local communities to identify their needs and implement solutions is vital for ownership and long-term success," Mr. Manegere said. "Our constituency office will continue to engage with the CDC to ensure the effective implementation of the 2025 CDF program." The HKH Constituency has prioritised the productive sector, allocating 40 per cent of its 2024 budget of $3.88 million to projects that generate economic returns. "We have abundant resources in fisheries, marine, agriculture, and forestry. By leveraging CDF support, we aim to inject investment capital into rural areas, reduce poverty, and enhance livelihoods," Mr. Manegere explained. 'Investments in agriculture and fisheries are expected to increase incomes and improve the quality of life for constituents. This aligns with our vision to foster economic growth and self-reliance," he added. Under the new CDF Act 2023, the HKH Constituency is committed to ensuring the efficient and effective delivery of development programs. The Act introduces key changes, including the establishment of CDCs, which play a pivotal role in coordinating, endorsing, and monitoring CDF projects. "The CDCs are critical stakeholders in this process, with clearly defined responsibilities under the new law," Mr. Manegere emphasised. CDC functions include: • Coordinating constituency development programs. • Approving annual budgets. • Managing CDF funds in consultation with the Member of Parliament and the Constituency Office. • Monitoring and supervising project implementation. • Engaging with communities to develop tailored development plans. MRD's Principal Legal Officer, Ms. Diana Alasia who was also part of the team, highlighted the CDF Act's emphasis on transparency, accountability, and community participation. "The law mandates inclusive decision-making, requiring at least two women to serve on each CDC. It also ensures project recipients uphold their commitments through legally binding agreements," she said. Mr. Manegere expressed gratitude to the Solomon Islands Government and the Ministry of Rural Development for their unwavering support of the CDF program. "This national initiative enables constituencies to access vital funds for development, directly benefiting our rural people," he noted. The Constituency Development Program, administered by MRD, is implemented across all 50 constituencies in the Solomon Islands to improve socio-economic outcomes nationwide.
Montreal Gazette
26-05-2025
- Business
- Montreal Gazette
Montreal ‘proud of our pedestrian streets,' Luc Rabouin says
Montreal's summer pedestrian streets are back for 2025, with some already open for the season. This year's slate is almost identical to the 2024 project, with no new additions, though Plaza St-Hubert will remain open to cars after its pedestrianization plan was scrapped in February. Last September, the city committed to fund summer pedestrian streets for three more years, cementing a framework that keeps cars off some commercial streets with the support of local commercial development corporations (CDCs). While the city dropped the Plaza St-Hubert plan after 60 per cent of local business owners voted against it, Plateau-Mont-Royal borough mayor Luc Rabouin maintained that the remaining streets still enjoy widespread support. 'No commercial street tried pedestrianization and didn't decide to redo it, except for one,' said Rabouin, who also sits on the city's executive committee. He called Plaza St-Hubert 'the exception that proves the rule.' Four years after the project began, 'we are now proud of our pedestrian streets,' Rabouin said. 'We're no longer asking ourselves whether it works or not. It works.' Nine streets are slated for pedestrianization this summer: Mont-Royal Ave. between St-Laurent Blvd. and St-Denis St. from May 26 until Oct. 16 and between St-Denis St. and De Lorimier Ave. from May 26 until Sept. 4. Duluth Ave. E. between St-Laurent Blvd. and St-Hubert St. from June 16 to Oct. 16. Wellington St. between 6th Ave. and Regina St. from June 2 to Sept. 19. Ste-Catherine St. E. between St-Hubert St. and Papineau Ave. and a short stretch of St-Christophe St. between Ste-Catherine St. E. and 1278 St-Christophe St. from May 15 to Oct. 14. St-Denis St. between Sherbrooke and Ste-Catherine Sts. from June 14 to Sept. 15. Émery St. between Sanguinet and St-Denis Sts. from June 14 to Sept. 15. Ontario St. E. between Pie-IX Blvd. and Darling St. from June 16 to Sept. 12. Bernard Ave. W. between Wiseman St. and Bloomfield St. from May 24 to Sept. 21. De Castelnau St. E. between St-Denis St. and de Gaspé Ave. from May 12 to Nov. 7. 'A pedestrian street is a lot more attractive than a street with constant intense traffic,' Rabouin said at a Villeray press conference held on the recently pedestrianized de Castelnau St. E. That street will see its temporary pedestrianization last the longest, running into November. 'You'll be able to celebrate Halloween with us,' said Villeray—Saint-Michel—Parc-Extension borough mayor Laurence Lavigne. Villeray CDC general director Louis Vaillancourt was optimistic, telling The Gazette the 2024 rendition of the project had boosted business for the merchants he represents. 'This is a lot of fun for the citizens, but my mission is to make money for my people,' he said. Claire, who manages the de Castelnau St. Épicerie Loco, a boutique grocery store, was also happy pedestrianization would return. She declined to provide her last name. The store takes advantage of the pedestrian street to offer tastings to passersby, she said. 'There are a lot of events in the street, so people are passing by, they see that the door is open, they do the tastings, it attracts a lot of people,' she said. 'We're very happy with that.' Restaurant owner Rabih Rouhana, who runs Comptoir Sainte-Cécile, said he is expecting to see an increase in customers. Restaurants tend to benefit the most from pedestrian projects, said Sébastien Ridoin, the general director of Montreal's CDC association. 'Obviously terrasses on the streets help them,' he said. But the projects only work when businesses are onside, Rabouin said, adding he was under no illusion that summer pedestrian streets work in every instance. 'It's not a recipe that we should apply to every commercial street. It's a recipe that works in certain cases.' In the short term, permanent pedestrianization remains out of reach, he said. 'We are always ready to discuss the most ambitious thing we can do,' Rabouin said, but most business owners want the pedestrianization to remain temporary. This story was originally published May 26, 2025 at 5:02 PM.
Independent Singapore
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Independent Singapore
Many Singaporeans agree with WP's Kenneth Foo, who called out Mayors' ‘part-time' jobs as redundant
SINGAPORE: Workers Party candidate Kenneth Foo tackled the issue of Mayors in Singapore in a speech he made at the party's East Coast rally on Tuesday (April 29). In its 2025 Manifesto, the WP has called for the Office of the Mayor to be abolished. The party argued that the assignment of Mayors aligns with existing political divisions and many of the roles handled by the Community Development Councils (CDCs) under Mayors have already gone back to other organisations, such as the Social Service Office. The WP added that Mayors' reduced roles do not justify their high yearly salaries. 'The Mayor's office was introduced in 1997, with updated roles in 2013. Given Singapore's small size, this role is redundant and incurs a significant annual expense of $660,000. Notably, it is also a part-time role. Enhanced accountability for taxpayers' funds is required,' commented Mr Foo. In 2021, WP chief and Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh said that there is scope for a serious review of the need to have full-time mayors, who are People's Action Party MPs appointed to run the CDCs. He added, 'Many Singaporeans are of the view that the salaries of mayors are outrageous, principally because they are not perceived to be commensurate with a mayor's roles and functions.' According to the White Paper on Salaries for a Capable and Committed Government, published in 2012, Mayors are paid an annual salary of $660,000. As MPs, they receive an annual allowance of $192,500, not including bonuses. The high price paid for mayors' salaries and allowances has been a contentious issue for some time now, as there are Singaporeans who believe that the country simply isn't big or populous enough to need mayors and that their duties are covered by other officials or agencies. There are currently five district mayors: Low Yen Ling (South West), Denise Phua (Central), Fahmi Aliman (South East), Alex Yam (North West), and Desmond Choo (North East). CDCs, established in 1997, coordinate grassroots bodies and manage community programmes, with the aim of bringing the community closer. There are five CDCs – Central Singapore, North East, North West, South East, South West – corresponding with the five districts in Singapore. At Tampines Changkat SMC, Mr Foo is up against Mr Choo, who has represented Tampines Changkat in Parliament since 2015, when it was still part of Tampines GRC. The newly created SMC was redrawn for this year's GE. Commenters on Mr Foo's speech appeared to agree with him, adding that the money paid for Mayors' salaries could have gone to better purposes. 'Voters in Tampines Changkat, please help us save some mayor's salaries,' one YouTube user wrote. 'Thanks for bringing up the Mayor issue. Seriously, it should be scrapped. Waste of taxpayers' money $660,000… the same money can be used towards helping our citizens who need more,' a Facebook user commented. One wrote that they were 'Very disappointed with the mayor for doing nothing and paid 660k using taxpayer money ,' which ' could have been used to do better things for the country.' ' YES, totally agreed. Waste of taxpayers' money. These monies would be better used to employ those who have been retrenched, the elderly, or those past retirement age,' another wrote. /TISG Read also: WP's 2025 manifesto calls for abolishing mayors, exempting essential goods from GST and reverting GRCs to SMCs
