So at PropertyESP we are big fans of infrastructure and especially have been advocating that Metronet becomes a key priority with the newly elected Labor Government.
However contrary to our views, a number of developers have been reticent to endorse Metronet as they believe the development sector will be the ones forced to contribute with the value capture model.
Always focused on solutions, Samantha Reece Director of PropertyESP invited John Del Dosso from Colliers to present at the Property Council Residential Committee about other options that were also available to fast track Metronet.
John advised the Committee that if the Government was to charge a $100 levy/household per year they would raise $72 million. If that same levy was placed on commercial businesses then this would add another $72 million per annum. If you were to consider this as a perpetuating levy than in 5 years the Government would have raised over $600 million.
This is the exact model that Jeff Kennett applied in Victoria and as a result leap frogged that state into a growth phase (http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/regrets-only-a-few-20120928-26qme.html).
John went on further to recommend that a toll be placed on the Northern Freeway – which at the moment is one of the fastest growing corridors. His reasoning was that the businesses travelling to work in this locale would be the ones paying the toll and residents – wishing to avoid this fee – would be more likely to catch the train (which would mean that this transport system may in fact become sustainable).
Samantha thought that this was a brilliant concept – despite being somewhat radical.
But when she raised it with other colleagues, their first reaction was to state that they didn’t think they should be forced to donate $100 so that Ellenbrook could get the train.
This led Samantha to think – just when would we as ratepayers, start to believe and hence invest in our own state?
This “What’s in it for me” mentality is in fact preventing us as a State to bloom – but at the end of the day $2/ week is very little to give up, in order to gain so much.
Perth is definitely in a precarious position – destined to grow with the most recent infrastructure which has been created – but also facing potential failure if our mindset is not right.
What do you think – would you invest $100 a year to help Perth’s transport network grow?
PS the good news is that Mark McGowan announced the Federal financing commitment for Metronet in today’s press (http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/23-billion-jobs-boost-for-wa/news-story/b53b044c6aa3848a4c809169a1ea7645)
PropertyESP 