Costello’s land audit overlooks industrial, freight provisions

<p>The Federal Government would work with the states to facilitate the release of government-owned land tracts for housing developments, treasurer Peter Costello told the ABC yesterday (Sunday, July 8).</p> <p>However, Mr Costello failed to mention providing latent land capacity for significant future freight infrastructure projects, such as intermodal terminals, industrial-zoned land and freight corridors.</p> <p>A review of state and Federal Government-owned land would target outer suburban areas as potentially suitable candidates for housing developments, Mr Costello said.</p> <p>Victorian Transport Association executive director Phil Lovel said any planning for new housing developments should consider infrastructure implications.</p> <p>&#8220While the VTA congratulates the government on the initiative, it needs to look at freight provisions, before and after housing developments begin,&#8221 Mr Lovel said.</p> <p>&#8220Outer road infrastructure projects are in urgent need of funding. [The roads&#93 are stretched in their ability to handle freight traffic.&#8221</p> <p>Housing Institute of Australia state director Warwick Temby told the <em>Courier Mail </em> the community would be surprised how much land was held by government agencies such as Queensland Rail.</p> <p>Mr Costello said the Commonwealth would look at any land that could be released for housing.</p> <p>&#8220We will ask the states to look at any land that they have that could be released for housing,&#8221 he said. </p> <p>The Queensland State Government responded by agreeing to examine possibilities to develop its spare urban land. </p> <p>&#8220And of course, a lot of this will also be held by the private sector, developers and the like, and we’ll try and identify whether there’s any reason why those developers are not releasing it,&#8221 Mr Costello said.</p> <p>&#8220I think if you could actually identify, particularly on the outskirts of the big cities, but there will be some regional centres that would want to be part of this …&#8221</p> <p>Mr Costello’s office was contacted by <em>Lloyd’s List DCN. </em> However, a spokesman failed to respond by press time.</p> <br />