Compliance and enforcement of regulations is a requirement imposed on Council by various pieces of legislation. This function of Council influences the decisions and conduct of the community and businesses.

As a policymaker and regulator, Council uses regulations to shape outcomes and achieve policy goals,. For example environmental regulation is used to prevent damage to the natural environment and planning legislation is used to promote orderly development.

In this regard, from 1 July 2018, all new Development Applications will be subject to an Enforcement and Compliance Levy. The underlying intent of this new Enforcement and Compliance Levy is to better equip Council so that it can successfully respond to the broadening nature and increasing intensity of compliance and enforcement activity.

The cost of the Levy?

A compliance levy of 0.25 per cent of the Capital Investment Value of a proposed development will be charged on each development application. ​

Development Applications to modify an existing consent (pursuant to Section 4.55 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979) will not incur the Levy.

Minor development with a Capital Investment Value less than $100,000 will not incur the Levy.

Why is this fee being charged?

There is a broad range of areas for which local government in NSW has a regulatory oversight role. Among its key regulatory roles it performs relate to building, planning, food safety and animal management.

The City of Canterbury Bankstown comprises the largest population base for a local government area in NSW. Coupled with a significant growth forecast to 2036 and beyond, there is a clear need to ensure impacts of growth and change are well managed, quality of the urban and natural environment protected and relevant legislative requirements enforced effectively, efficiently and consistently. Underlying this a strong public interest in maintaining an orderly and well maintained city.​

The Levy will apply to following functions of Council:

• Building and construction
  
• Parking
  
• Pu​blic health and safety
  
• Food safety and liquor licencing
  
• Environment
  
• Development assessment
  

​​Income from the Levy will improve Council's capacity to efficiently:​

• Respond to community issues and conduct compliance and enforcement services that are customer focused in a more timely manner
  
• Initiate and perform compliance actions
  
• Administer and enforce building, environmental and health regulation and policies
  
• Monitor and ensure a high standard of food premises across the City
  
• Improve education for residents and business on council's compliance and enforcement functions
  
• Focus on continuous improvement to reduce burdens and minimising the cost of regulation on business
  
• Undertake and implement a governance system that demonstrates accountability
  

​When is the Levy payable?

• The Levy is payable at the time of lodgement of a Development Application
• The Levy is applied pursuant to Section 608 of the Local Government Act
• The Levy will be refunded in full if the Development Application is refused, withdrawn or not acted upon within the timeframe stated in the approval