Public transport and liveable communities in danger if developer levies axed

Friday, 28 September 2007 22:20

TEC Urban Campaigner Mr Leigh Martin said “Developer levies in new urban release areas such as the north-west and south-west growth sectors are a vital source of funding for public transport, community centres, environment protection and public parks. It is only fair that property developers who benefit from new land releases contribute to the creation of attractive and liveable communities”

TEC has also warned that taxpayers may have to foot the bill for any reduction in developer levies as infrastructure and community services will have to be funded from the public purse if the growth centres are not to become unattractive, car dependent urban planning disasters.

“The need for public facilities and infrastructure in new suburbs will remain, regardless of what happens with developer levies. If the levies are reduced they will have to be funded from the state budget and higher local council rates. The alternative is that new suburbs will simply miss out on facilities that other communities take for granted and that Sydney’s transport chaos worsens with more and more people are forced onto the road due to lack of public transport in the growth centres”.

TEC has disputed developers’ claims that levies are driving up house prices and reducing home affordability.

“The fact is that developers will always seek to maximise their return and get the highest possible price for each lot. Scrapping or reducing developer contributions won’t lead to an equivalent price drop”, Mr Martin said.