• Berwick Gazette
• Pakenham Gazette

3rd March 2010 02:01:13 AM

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MELBOURNE’S growing population prompted the State Government to identify areas for expansion.

Under the Melbourne 2030 plan the government identified suburban growth corridors and wanted to limit the city’s expansion within Urban Growth Boundaries (UGB).

As part of the plan the government hoped to introduce a Growth Areas Infrastructure Contribution (GAIC) tax to pay for infrastructure in new suburbs, and said the UGB would not be moved without it.

The tax meant those buying properties included within the UGB in or after 2009 would be subject to a $95,000 per hectare levy. Properties brought into the UGB before this date were to be levied at $80,000.

Parts of Casey were being investigated for development while Officer is already in the UGB.

The tax was defeated in parliament last week and the State Government said it now had no current plans in relation to extension of the UGB.

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