GROWTH CENTRES IN QUEENSLAND
It is unfortunate f or the people of Queensland,
and particularly for those of Townsville who would be the
first to benefit, that the Queensland Premier is more
interested in making political points than in receiving
financial assistance from the Australian Government.
His ill-informed comments on growth centres contrast
starkly with the attitude of Liberal Premiers in New
South Wales and Victoria who have welcomed the Australian
Government's initiatives and cooperated with them.
The principles involved have been approved by the
Governments of New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia
and are in the process of being implemented in Albury/ Wodonga,
Bathurst/ Orange, the South-West sector of Sydney and Monarto.
The basic principle agreed is that people should be
able to build their homes on their own land and hold this land
in freehold tenure for all time. The only condition that has
been placed on residential freehold is that land owners should
not be able to make private profit out of public decisions
such as a change in land use zoning.
At no time has the Australian Government considered
any proposal that all homes built in growth centres should be
for rental. In all growth centres supported by the Australian
Government people will have full opportunity to buy houses of
their own choice. The Australian Government and all State Governments with
whom agreements have been negotiated want to see viable growth
centres that do not have to rely for their establishment and
continued growth on subsidies. The objective of the Australian
Government has been to provide special financial support in the
early stages of growth and provide, where necessary, facilities
in advance of the normal time by which they would be needed. For
all revenue producing investment a basic principle of repayable.
loans has been established. For the growth centres agreed with
State Governments, long term loans are being provided at the
long term loan rate with initial grace periods. But agreements
have been reached with State Governments on the provision of nonrepayable
grants for certain purposes. For example, in the case
of sewerage backlog the assistance provided by the Australian
Government has been one-third grant and the remainder long-term
loans. Grants on a two for one matchihg basis are being made
available for the purchase of non-urban land. Assistance will
also be provided for projects to a standard higher than they
would have been provided for an equivalent population in other
areas in a State. The aim is to develop attractive well-planned
growth centres. / 2
A detailed evaluation of proposals for international
airport facilities at Townsville is being undertaken currently
by the Bureau of Transport Economics. A report is expected
to be available at the end of next month. It is important,
of course, that any major proposals such as this for Townsville
be effectively integrated with other major projects and programs
to cater for future growth.
Accelerated growth in Townsville could be successfully
achieved if an agreement were reached between the Australian
Government and the State Government on the basic objectives of
a program and the basic principles to underly that program.
The Australian Government wants to see a more rational distribution
of population, improved access of people to the range of
specialised services which can only be made available in large
centres and the access of people to cheap developed land.
The Australian Government has promised to help promote
that growth. Its programs however need the cooperation of
the Queensland Government if they are to be fully realised.
Townsville, Qld.
April 5, 1975