News Brief: Suburban Rail Loop East Funding Plan Unveiled
Summary
The Victorian government has detailed its plan to use “value capture” mechanisms to fund a significant portion of the $34.5 billion Suburban Rail Loop East (SRL East) project. The strategy aims to raise over $10 billion from taxes and levies linked to increased property values near the new rail line, drawing criticism from property and development groups who warn it will increase housing costs.
Key Points
- Funding Strategy: The government will use five value capture mechanisms to fund SRL East, expecting to raise $11.5 billion over 40 years.
- Key Mechanisms: Include new levies on property developers building in SRL precincts ($2.9B) and a future levy on car park owners once the line is complete in 2035 ($800M). Existing land and windfall gains taxes in the precincts will also contribute.
- Government’s Position: Premier Jacinta Allan calls it a “fair” approach, stating those who financially benefit from the infrastructure should contribute. She insists the family home is exempt and tax rates won’t increase.
- Industry Criticism: Property and development groups argue the new charges will stifle housing construction, increase buyer costs, and contradict affordable housing goals. They estimate developers could pay over $33,000 per new dwelling by 2032.
- Project Context: SRL East is the first stage of a major rail tunnel linking Cheltenham to Box Hill. The state is funding one-third, seeking another third from the Commonwealth, with the final third from value capture. The federal government has committed $2.2B for early works but not the full $9B requested.
- Contract Award: A $6.7 billion contract to build 13 automated trains for SRL East was awarded to TransitLinX, with manufacturing in Dandenong.
新闻简报：郊区铁路环线东段融资计划公布
总结
维多利亚州政府详细公布了其利用”价值捕获”机制为345亿澳元的郊区铁路环线东段项目提供部分资金的计划。该策略旨在通过对新铁路线附近增值的房产征税和收费筹集超过100亿澳元，但遭到了房地产和开发团体的批评，他们警告这将推高住房成本。
关键点
- 融资策略：政府将使用五种价值捕获机制为SRL东段融资，预计在40年内筹集115亿澳元。
- 关键机制：包括对在SRL区域内开发的房地产开发商征收新费用（29亿澳元），以及在线路于2035年完工后对停车场业主征收的未来费用（8亿澳元）。该区域内现有的土地税和意外利得税也将贡献资金。
- 政府立场：州长杰辛塔·艾伦称这是一种”公平”的做法，表示从基础设施中 financially 受益者应该做出贡献。她坚称家庭自住房产可豁免，且税率不会提高。
- 行业批评：房地产和开发团体认为，新收费将抑制住房建设，增加购房者成本，并与可负担住房目标相悖。他们估计到2032年，开发商为SRL区域内每套新住房支付的费用可能超过33,000澳元。
- 项目背景：SRL东段是连接切尔滕纳姆和博士山的大型铁路隧道的第一阶段。州政府承担三分之一资金，寻求联邦政府提供另外三分之一，最后三分之一通过价值捕获筹集。联邦政府已承诺22亿澳元用于早期工程，但未全额满足州政府约90亿澳元的请求。
- 合同授予：一份价值67亿澳元、为SRL东段建造13列自动化列车的合同已授予TransitLinX，制造地点在丹德农。
Original Article Link: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-18/victorian-government-suburban-rail-loop-value-capture/106158982