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Govt axe hangs over transport projects

A bus travels along the O-Bahn busway. File photo.

A bus travels along the O-Bahn busway. File photo.

The State Government says it will cancel a proposed park and ride at Paradise, with a range of other transport projects at risk, after its car park tax was defeated in Parliament today.

The Government has refused to rule out the cancellation of the O-Bahn tunnel project and other initiatives, including tram line extensions in the city, proposed in its 30-year transport plan.

The Legislative Council voted down the tax late today, after separating it from the rest of the Government’s budget measures.

The Transport Development Levy, first flagged by the Government nearly two years ago, would have raised more than $120 million over the forward estimates by imposing a $750 annual tax on city car park spaces.

The Government has always said the money was to be spent on park and rides to encourage more commuters to use public transport.

Before today’s vote, Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis and Transport Minister Stephen Mullighan said the defeat of the tax would result in the cancellation of the Paradise project, while seven other proposed park and rides would be at risk.

The pair also refused to rule out the cancellation of the $160 million O-Bahn tunnel project – a key Labor promise ahead of this year’s state election.

In an attempt to turn the political tables on the Opposition, the ministers highlighted a newsletter to constituents from the Liberal member for Hartley, Vincent Tarzia, which promoted his work in securing the Paradise park and ride.

“The hypocrisy of the Marshall Opposition is staggering – on the one hand they promote projects to be funded by the Transport Development Levy and on the other they plan to block it,” Koutsantonis said.

Mullighan said the potential park and rides under threat included at Tambelin on the Gawler rail line, Morphettville, West Lakes, Wayville, Crafers, Bellevue Heights, Crafers and Golden Grove.

He also raised doubt over the entire forward infrastructure list contained in the Government’s 30-year Integrated Transport and Land Use Plan.

The car park tax was a “key component” in funding the projects, he said.

“These initiatives are at risk if the SA Liberals block the Transport Development Levy,” Mullighan said.

The pair repeatedly refused to rule out the cancellation of the O-Bahn tunnel project, but pointed out that a decision had not been made to do so.

The Property Council of South Australia today repeated its call for the proposed tax to be abolished.

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