A Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is applied to new development for community infrastructure.
This can include things such as libraries and sporting pavilions, paid by the landowner prior to the issuing of a building permit for any new or additional dwelling (unless agreed to be paid by the developer).
The infrastructure funded by the CIL is set out in the Development Contributions Plan (DCP) for that precinct or development area. The DCP is an incorporated document in the Greater Geelong Planning Scheme and is a mechanism used to levy new development for contributions to fund planned infrastructure that will be needed by the future community.
There are some smaller developments across the municipality that may also include a CIL as part of an agreement with Council. These CIL obligations can be confirmed by checking title details, which should include reference to a Section 173 Agreement (S173). A S173 is a voluntary and legally binding agreement between Council and another party (in this case generally a developer) under Section 173 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987. Developers agree to pay the CIL in these agreements.
Who pays?
Payment of the CIL is the responsibility of the property owner who is building a new dwelling (or additional dwelling) on a lot affected by a Development Contributions Plan Overlay (DCPO). The lot may also be affected by a Section 173 Agreement requiring payment of a CIL by the developer.
An approved DCP may be implemented through a DCPO and schedule, as provided for in the Victorian Planning Provisions.
The DCPO indicates the area covered by the DCP. The schedule defines the infrastructure levies that apply to a particular area.
Please also note: Section 24 of the Building Act 1993 does not allow a building surveyor to issue a building permit, unless satisfied that the levy has been paid to Council.
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Payment
The CIL is paid prior to issuing a building permit. Payment of the levy is triggered by the approval of a building permit for the construction of new dwelling. It is mandated under Section 24(5) of the Building Act 1993. The Planning & Environment Act 1987 26(L)(2) sets an upper limit on the amount that can be raised by a CIL through a DCP at $1,450.00 per dwelling. The landowner is responsible for payment of the CIL.
The CIL is payable for every new dwelling, so where a lot is further subdivided (into townhouses for example), and additional CIL will be payable for each of the extra dwellings created.
The CIL can be paid in person at any customer service centre, with a credit card over the phone with our Customer Service Staff on 03 5272 5272 or an invoice with BPay options can be requested once the lot is titled.
Please note: All payments made by credit and debit cards will incur a 0.25 percent charge to enable Council to recover the cost of merchant fees charged by financial institutions.
BPay takes between 2-4 working days for funds to transfer and processing.
Developers who have taken the option to pay the CIL on behalf of the future homeowners are required to pay prior to the subdivision achieving statement of compliance.
CIL Payment amounts 2024-2025
The CIL is calculated on a per dwelling basis. The amount payable varies between development areas/precincts.
To allow for inflation, the CIL is indexed annually on 1 July.
Development Contribution Plans
The current 2024-25 Community Infrastructure Levies are shown below:
| Precinct / Development Area |
Community Infrastructure Levy
(CIL)* |
Some housing estate examples |
| Armstrong Creek East - DCP |
$1,385.55 /dwelling
|
Warralily, Horizon Cove, Armstrong Waters, Sanctuary, Harriot |
| Armstrong Creek West - DCP |
$1,450.00 /dwelling
|
Armstrong Creek Central, Armstrong, Warralily Grange, Yaringa, The Creek |
| Armstrong Creek Horseshoe Bend - DCP |
$1,219.05 /dwelling
|
Ashbury, Charlemont Rise, Watermark, The Reserve, Glenlee |
| Armstrong Creek Town Centre - DCP |
$1,207.00 /dwelling
|
|
| Lara West Growth Area (including Manzeene Avenue) - DCP |
$1,238.10 /dwelling
|
Manzeene Village, Coridale, Austin |
| Central Road Drysdale DCP |
$1,296.55 /dwelling |
|
| Curlewis Growth Area (also known as Jetty Road Growth Area) - DCP |
Paid by Developer prior to title
$1,450.00 /dwelling
|
Curlewis Parks, Bayview, Bellaview, Baywater, Coriyule |
* The Community Infrastructure Levy in DCPs is capped at $1,450.00 (effective 1 July 2024)
Section 173 Agreements
| Precinct / Development Area |
Infrastructure Levy
|
Some housing estate examples |
Ocean
Grove - Oakdene Estate - S173
|
Paid by Developer prior to SOC $1,396.05 /lot |
Oakdene Estate |
Ocean Grove - Kingston Downs Estate - S173
|
Paid by Developer prior to SOC $900.00 /lot |
Kingston Downs Estate |
Point Lonsdale Golf Course - S173
|
Paid by Developer prior to SOC $1,208.50 /lot |
Point Lonsdale Golf Course |
| Caddys Road - Lara - S173 |
Paid by Developer prior to SOC $900.00 /lot |
|
| St Leonards Growth Area 2 - S173 |
Paid by Developer prior to SOC
CIL $53,065.25 /ha
DIL $256,593.13 /ha
|
|
| Wandana Heights Estate - S173 |
Paid by Developer prior to SOC $3,310.40 /lot |
|
| Ash Road West - S173 |
Paid by Developer prior to SOC $465,441.18 /ha
|
|
| Trethowan Ave - S 173 |
Paid by Developer prior to SOC
Charge Area 1 $519,492.82 /ha
Charge Area 2 $500,354.53 /ha
|
|
Payment by developers during the subdivision process
Previously, only a handful of developers opted to pay the CIL.
As at 1 January 2017, the following estates don't require the new homeowners to pay the levy (that is: the CIL is paid by the developer):
| Curlewis Growth Area |
Armstrong Creek Growth Area |
| • Curlewis Parks |
• Anchoridge* |
| • Bayview |
Lara |
| • Baywater |
• Lara Central* |
| • Bellaview |
Ocean Grove |
| • Coriyule |
• Oakdene* |
| Leopold |
• Kingston* |
| • Estuary* |
Point Lonsdale |
| • Belgravia* |
• Lonsdale Golf Club* |
| St Leonards |
|
| • Seachange* |
|
* These estates have the CIL included in a Section 173 Agreement (S173) or the CIL is paid by the developer.
Payment methods
You can pay the levy via one of the following methods:
Failure to pay
Section 24 of the Building Act 1993 does not allow a building surveyor to issue a building permit for a new dwelling unless satisfied that the Community Infrastructure Levy has been paid to Council.
If for some reason the CIL was not paid and a building permit has been issued, we will remind the building surveyor of their responsibilities under section 24(5) of the Building Act 1993. Following this, we may take steps with the landowner to secure payment through our established debt collection procedures.
Need to know more...
For more information concerning the CIL, please contact our Development Contributions team on 03 5272 5146 or by email ([email protected]).
