Article: $2bn infrastructure tax accord appears imminent

[ozbob]

From the Melbourne Age click here!

$2bn infrastructure tax accord appears imminent

$2bn infrastructure tax accord appears imminent
JASON DOWLING
April 16, 2010

THE state government and opposition are poised to reach agreement on a $2 billion infrastructure tax for Melbourne's growth areas that will trigger a massive urban expansion.

Representatives from Planning Minister Justin Madden's office and Department of Planning staff met with landholder group Taxed Out yesterday to brief them on secret negotiations between the government and opposition on the tax.

The opposition is expected to back the $95,000-a-hectare levy if the government can win the support of the landowners. The government has already gained the support of some sections of the development industry.

The government has said it would not expand Melbourne's urban growth boundary unless the tax - aimed at paying for new services such as schools, public transport and health centres - is passed. It has been estimated the tax will only meet 15 per cent of these infrastructure costs.

Should it be passed, the government has promised to expand Melbourne's urban growth boundary 43,600-hectares to deliver 134,000 new homes, mostly in the north and west.

Opposition planning spokesman Matthew Guy refused to confirm a deal had been reached but said ''for 17 months we have always been willing to talk and our door remains open now''.

[#Metro]

I didn't know that Melbourne had an urban growth boundary.
Looks like the easy option- more sprawl on the edges rather than higher density and a single CBD city.

Why can't we have multiple CBDs in a city?

[O_128]

I didn't know that Melbourne had an urban growth boundary.
Looks like the easy option- more sprawl on the edges rather than higher density and a single CBD city.

Why can't we have multiple CBDs in a city?

Sydney manages to do it