10 May 2010
The no frills budget promised by the Federal Government this week should not be a no cities budget, according to the Urban Taskforce.
This was major investment in transport infrastructure and a welcome boost across Australia, Mr Gadiel said. But it was only the first step in addressing a great challenge before the federal government.
As important as this first step was, by itself it does not ensure that Australias largest cities have the infrastructure they need to support population growth and demographic change.
Mr Gadiel said much of the work of the national infrastructure priority list is unfinished.
The public transport needs of both Sydney and Brisbane were identified as requiring further investment, he said. Last years funding for urban infrastructure cannot be allowed to become simply a one-off measure.
It would make sense if was just the beginning of a long-term program of federal funding for urban infrastructure, but it would be a tragedy if it turns out to be the only major federal intervention in the infrastructure needs of our key urban communities.
Mr Gadiel said that the Federal Government could make a difference to the future of our cities.
The Federal Government needs to introduce a permanent rolling program of funding large-scale urban infrastructure, Mr Gadiel said.
State and territory governments should be required to commit to housing and urban development targets and be held to them.
The ˜no frills budget promised by the Federal Government should not be a ˜no cities budget.
The future of largest cities are too important to be overlooked.
The Urban Taskforce is a property development industry group, representing Australias most prominent property developers and equity financiers.
The construction activity made possible by property developers contributes $78 billion to the national economy each year and creates 849,000 direct jobs.
