New tax is ‘responsible’

By Bridget Brady
IT WOULD be irresponsible of the State Government to set aside land for urban development and not have money to provide critical infrastructure, Planning Minister Justin Madden said.
The State Government has proposed a Growth Areas Infrastructure Charge (GAIC) of $95,000 per hectare for those who purchase land brought into the Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) in or after 2009, and $80,000 per hectare for properties brought into the UGB in 2005.
“We have to make sure these new suburbs are communities,” Mr Madden told the News this week.
“We want to ensure that when the houses are being built, there is appropriate planning and resources to deliver the public transport, parks, schools, roads, hospitals and other vital infrastructure that new communities need to help preserve our renowned quality of life.”