Victorian communities along theSuburban Rail Loop East rail line are bracing for an $11.5 billion tax hit as they are cut out of local planning decisions by the Andrews Labor Government.
The Cheltenham to Box Hill rail line, which is budgeted to cost at least $34.5 billion, will be funded one-third by "value capture" across local communities along the train line.
Value capture is code for taxes on new and existing homes, with warnings up to one million new residents will be required to move into local suburbs along the route, despite there being no plan for increases to local infrastructure and services.
Worse still, the SRL Authority is now the planning authority for projects within 1.6 kilometres of train stations along the line – meaning local residents and Councils have been cut out of the decision making process.
Aside from vague outline of the rail loop's route, Daniel Andrews gave Victorians little detail on the project before the election, and a proper, comprehensively detailed business case is still yet to be completed.
Deputy Leader of the Opposition, David Southwick, said local residents didn't sign up to be sidelined from decisions about the future of their communities. "Communities along the SRL East are facing a double-whammy of an $11.5 billion tax hit and being cut out of local planning decisions," Mr Southwick said.
"Local residents deserve a fair say in the future of their community, not to be sidelined by a government desperate for billions in value-capture revenue. How many new developments will be approved? What new taxes will be levied on existing homeowners? Daniel Andrews needs to be honest with Victorians."
