Developers ‘don’t want an increase in cost’
A DEVELOPER considering construction on a commercial block near Morgan Park says he will have to "go back and do the numbers" if the council increases infrastructure charges.
Graeme Collins, who owns a subdivision on Old Stanthorpe Rd, had been considering putting some commercial buildings on his land - but now isn't so sure.
He has hit out at the council's proposed infrastructure charges, which he believes will cost him more than $30,000 extra.
"It's going to have an impact on any development, and we need development - with development comes jobs," he said.
"For me the infrastructure charges per sq m are almost equal to the income of rent per sq m."
Developers needed more notice of the possible impending charges, according to Mr Collins.
"If you're a developer, it takes you a good 18 months to get the development to start up and get the finances sorted to go ahead," he said.
"For the council to then say you need an extra $30,000 isn't right."
While Mr Collins said the current charges were "reasonable", he believed developers wouldn't want to pay more.
"As a developer we'd like to see the current charges halved, not risen - but we know there's no chance of that happening," he said.
