Concept seen as helping with spreading infrastructure cost burden
In another step that may ultimately lead to a more equitable roads funding mechanism, Infrastructure Australia has launched the first paper in its new infrastructurereform series,Capturing Value: Advice on making value capture work in Australia.
In the advisory paper, Infrastructure Australia argues that ‘value capture’ can work in Australia and should be regularly considered for all public infrastructure projects, but it is important to be realistic about the role it can play in funding the infrastructure we need.
“This advisory paper provides guidance to governments and the private sector on how value capture can be applied in the Australian context,” Infrastructure Australia chief executive Philip Davies says.
“Government budgets are under significant constraint.
“Funding for infrastructure must compete with recurrent expenses such as health and education spending, which is why the Australian Infrastructure Plan highlights the importance of diversifying the available sources of infrastructure funding.”
Value capture has fans in state and federal governments and advisory bodies, as well as academia, but the property industry is wary that a form of double taxation may be involved.
Davies takes a traditional line on the argument.
“Most people value high-quality infrastructure with access to services like high-frequency public transport, which can cause an increase in property value,” he says.
“Value capture taps into this by capturing some of the uplift around infrastructure investments, and in doing so can reduce the volume of taxpayer funds needed to pay for infrastructure.
“In the case of large-scale infrastructure projects, even a 5-10 per cent contribution to project costs through value capture can represent a saving to the taxpayer in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
“It’s about making the funding split fairer between the direct beneficiaries of infrastructure investment and broader taxpayers, while also increasing available funding for infrastructure.
“Governments should be clear on the problem they seek to solve and ensure the mechanism that is applied is the most effective and appropriate approach.
“Importantly, opportunities for value capture need to be identified and implemented early in planning processes, before specific options are developed, to maximise benefits to taxpayers.
“High quality, detailed and long-term strategic planning is the foundation of effective value capture. Governments must also be transparent in their application, engaging industry and the community about how much is being raised, from whom, and how all parties will benefit.
“There are a number of different value capture mechanisms that can provide individual solutions for specific projects, however having a broader-based land tax system would offer the best opportunities for sustainable, longer term reform.
“A broad-based land tax would involve removing many exemptions to existing taxes on land value, streamlining charging processes and phasing out other charges such as stamp duties.
The key thing to remember is that while value capture may bring benefits to governments, the capacity to apply a value capture mechanism cannot change the underlying economic viability of the project.”