In September 2022 and February 2023, Transport released two papers: the white paper Enabling Local Business Improvement Districts and a policy paper for BIDs Next steps for Business Improvement Districts: What we’ve heard and principles for future policy. These documents explored why NSW does not currently have CIDs (formerly known as BIDs) and what can be done to make it easier for CIDs to contribute to neighbourhood place making. It was identified that there was a need for a Pilot Program to test CID principles to both harness the strong stakeholder support and enthusiasm for CIDs in NSW and help generate insights on appropriate CID policy in NSW.

Through insights, evaluation and testing of a range of models, the CID Pilot Program will create an evidence base to inform the development of policy for CIDs in NSW. This will support the development of policy and legislative reform options that, when in place, will make it easier for entities to operate, be sustainable and successful.