By Staff Writer
An independent study has undermined claims of excessive infrastructure charges by Queensland councils, the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) has said.
The LGAQ commissioned the study following claims by the development lobby that council charges were greater than those charged interstate.
"These claims have now clearly been shown to be nothing more than a myth,” LGAQ President Paul Bell said on releasing the study.
“The arguments presented by those organisations (developers) have included instances of incorrect application of development densities/areas, charge rates and charging methodologies, as well as the selection of locations where significant development was unlikely to take place, and were based on a narrow study of only six councils.”
The AEC study, which focused on every high-growth council in Queensland, contrasting their charges with average infrastructure charges in three other states.
Average Queensland high-growth councils’ charges of $22,302 contrasted against similar examples such as the Tweed Shire Council’s $36,121, Blacktown City Council’s (NSW) $33,391 and Cardinia Shire Council’s (Victoria) $24,562.
“Time and time again, the development industry has indulged in gross exaggeration over Queensland councils’ comparative infrastructure charges and their development application processing times,” Cr Bell said.
“Few of its claims stand up to public scrutiny. It’s simply a case of misleading the community, the media and politicians,” he said.
Cr Bell said the LGAQ would provide copies of the AEC study to major economic institutions, the Reserve Bank, federal and state Treasuries, the Productivity Commission and the state Department of Infrastructure and Planning.
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