Community Improvement Districts in New South Wales

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A Community Improvement District (CID) is a place-based partnership between local government and the community, led by local businesses, to support and grow local economies, town centres and main streets. Within a CID, stakeholders work together for a common goal of improving our local spaces. We are looking at CIDs as a way to enhance the local trading environment, foster community collaboration and enable economic growth.

CIDs are an internationally recognised tool for businesses and the community to work together to contribute to great neighbourhoods. It can help enhance the local trading environment, encourage economic growth, and enable community pride. 

CIDs help create liveable, enriching, and desirable places and stimulate local economies. They maximise the vitality and quality of public spaces and give businesses an opportunity to become involved in conversations about how a place is managed.

Transport for NSW is proposing a new policy to make it easier for Community Improvement Districts (formerly Business Improvement Districts) to be set up in NSW.

We have released draft legislation for Community Improvement Districts and are inviting discussion through: 

  • Survey and formal submissions via Have Your Say (extended until 10 May 2024)
  • A series of targeted workshops
  • Webinar on 29 February 2024 (see link to recording)
Streets as Shared Spaces, Morph It Morpeth
Darby Street, Newcastle. Streets as Shared Spaces Program.
Your High Street, Penrith
Railway Street Liverpool

Draft Community Improvement Districts Bill 2023

The Draft Community Improvement Districts Bill 2023 (the draft Bill) details the proposed legislation to establish CIDs in NSW and is intended to be supported by regulations and related guidance. 

Transport for NSW is releasing the draft Bill for public comment so stakeholders can help shape the final legislation.

The Draft Community Improvement Districts Bill 2023 (PDF, 314.82 KB) and A Guide to the Draft Community Improvement Districts Bill (PDF, 1.79 MB) are available to download.

The draft Bill has three objectives: 

  1. To provide for the establishment and operation of CIDs for the benefit of businesses and local communities
  2. To provide for the delivery of services, projects, and activities by CID entities in CIDs funded by CID levies, and 
  3. To regulate CID entities, CID proposals, CID proposal ballots, and the delivery of services, projects and activities funded by CID levies. 

Webinar

Watch the webinar below to learn about Community Improvement Districts. 

Have your say

We are keen to hear your views on the draft Bill and its approach.

You can contribute to the discussion by completing the survey or uploading a submission at the NSW Government’s Have Your Say website until 10 May 2024.

 

Contact us

If you have any questions about Community Improvement Districts or want to subscribe to the program updates, contact the team via email at: communityimprovementdistricts@transport.nsw.gov.au

More information

Next Steps for Business Improvement Districts (Policy Paper)

The Policy Paper (PDF, 625 KB) addresses feedback on the recent White Paper, identifies next steps for Improvement District policy reform and outlines how the pilot program will streamline Improvement Districts being established in NSW.

Enabling Local Business Improvement Districts (White Paper)

A White Paper (PDF, 1.49 MB) was released in 2022 outlining potential policy options. This document includes case studies showing how Improvement Districts have contributed to place revitalisation in various communities. The document also includes a range of questions that feedback from stakeholders were sought on.

Business of Cities Paper

A background paper (PDF, 1.5 MB) prepared by the Business of Cities for Transport for NSW provides further context and background on Improvement Districts from a global perspective.

Past Webinar - Pilot Program

In October 2022, we held a 45-minute webinar and presented on:

  • NSW Government place revitalisation programs
  • Overview of the White Paper
  • Next steps for streamlining Improvement District policy in NSW
  • Future engagement opportunities.

View a recording of the webinar

We also facilitated a Q&A session with webinar participants.

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