The focus would be on designing all new schools as community facilities and progressively transitioning existing schools during major scheduled upgrades. As a first step, funding, governance and planning arrangements for these facilities would need to be reformed. This would include an increased role for local government and other in schools as partners in the management of these shared assets (ref. SCF). 2.4 Improve planning in low growth areas to respond to changing demands on services and infrastructure 2.4.1 Government service/infrastructure planning. Formalise an area-based, integrated service and infrastructure planning and investment prioritisation process within 0-5 years to improve coordination and minimise siloed decision-making. Initially this would focus on mechanisms to make state government departments plan services and infrastructure better together. Once state government has become more integrated, it will be critical to include local and federal government in this process to enable more effective integrated land use and infrastructure planning (ref. SIP). Funding recommendations The delivery of the following major projects is expected to involve significant costs. If government chooses to adopt these recommendations, a range of funding mechanisms should be considered. Recommendations and potential funding mechanisms 2.1.1 Regional highways General government revenue User charges 2.3.2 Community space refurb/ rationalisation General government revenue User charges Property development Asset sales Funding recommendations additional comments – Existing heavy vehicle user charges could contribute funding for regional highway upgrades that have been identified and prioritised. Reforms to existing heavy vehicle user charges are needed so that charges are commensurate with the impact by those users. We recognise that this is underway through national reform processes. For community space refurb/rationalisation, we recommend establishing an incentive fund to assist local government, service providers and community organisations to refurbish or rationalise community assets. Some of the cost of providing refurbished or new community facilities could be reduced by local government, service providers and community organisations selling low-performing, costly or not fit-for-purpose community infrastructure. Property development opportunities could also be pursued by partnering with the private sector, such as selling or leasing facilities or floor space for commercial
The focus would be on designing all new schools as community facilities and progressively transitioning existing schools during major scheduled upgrades. As a first step, funding, governance and planning arrangements for these facilities would need to be reformed. This would include an increased role for local government and other in schools as partners in the management of these shared assets (ref. SCF). 2.4 Improve planning in low growth areas to respond to changing demands on services and infrastructure 2.4.1 Government service/infrastructure planning. Formalise an area-based, integrated service and infrastructure planning and investment prioritisation process within 0-5 years to improve coordination and minimise siloed decision-making. Initially this would focus on mechanisms to make state government departments plan services and infrastructure better together. Once state government has become more integrated, it will be critical to include local and federal government in this process to enable more effective integrated land use and infrastructure planning (ref. SIP). Funding recommendations The delivery of the following major projects is expected to involve significant costs. If government chooses to adopt these recommendations, a range of funding mechanisms should be considered. Recommendations and potential funding mechanisms 2.1.1 Regional highways General government revenue User charges 2.3.2 Community space refurb/ rationalisation General government revenue User charges Property development Asset sales Funding recommendations – additional comments Existing heavy vehicle user charges could contribute funding for regional highway upgrades that have been identified and prioritised. Reforms to existing heavy vehicle user charges are needed so that charges are commensurate with the impact by those users. We recognise that this is underway through national reform processes. For community space refurb/rationalisation, we recommend establishing an incentive fund to assist local government, service providers and community organisations to refurbish or rationalise community assets. Some of the cost of providing refurbished or new community facilities could be reduced by local government, service providers and community organisations selling low-performing, costly or not fit-for-purpose community infrastructure. Property development opportunities could also be pursued by partnering with the private sector, such as selling or leasing facilities or floor space for commercial