Council says let’s get town moving

Toni Mcrae | 9th February 2010

THE FUTURE of the Fraser Coast is looking much brighter today, the regional council unveiled a “flat rate cap” on infrastructure charges billed to developers.

Mick Kruger and Daniel Poacher outside a new office building in Main Street.

ALISTAIR BRIGHTMAN

THE FUTURE of the Fraser Coast is looking much brighter today after the regional council unveiled a “flat rate cap” on infrastructure charges billed to developers.

The council’s CEO, Andrew Brien, confirmed a commitment from late 2009 that the council would work with developers who had “shovel-ready projects” to get these projects up and running.

“Shovel-ready projects are those that have all the necessary approvals in place and are just waiting on funding to come through so they can commence,” he said.

“Projects that will be considered are new projects that create employment in both the construction stage and lead to ongoing employment, as well as existing projects which have been placed on hold because of the combination of the global financial crisis and the increases in infrastructure charges.”

The council wants developers who plan to carry out substantial development in the immediate future to contact it to discuss and review the existing trunk infrastructure contribution rates.

As an indication the council, where appropriate, will consider reducing the infrastructure rates for projects that fall within the following parameters:

The necessary development approvals have been issued;

Architectural plans have been prepared;

Engineering and service designs have been completed;

Preliminary quantity surveying has been completed;

Construction can commence within six months and be completed within two years.

Mayor Mick Kruger and the Urban Development Institute’s local president Daniel Poacher agreed on a March 2 forum involving the full council and the UDIA to discuss ways to encourage development activity without placing undue hardship on the council’s budget.

“We all agreed that something needed to be done to stimulate the local economy by making it viable for developers, business owners and anyone in the community to kick off projects in our region,” Mr Poacher said.

“This will have positive flow-on effects for employment and business on the Fraser Coast.”