Red tape pushes up water prices

AT a time when new home loan approvals are going through the floor and investors shy away from property, water charges for new developments are going through the roof.

Speaking at Helidon property developer Hans Nan's new estate last week Member for Lockyer, Ian Rickuss and Shadow Minister for Energy and Water Utilities Steve Dickson highlighted the case of Helidon property developer Hans Nan as a perfect example of State Government bungling of water bodies.

Mr Nan has developed a 27 block housing estate at Helidon, Bonnie Glen, which cost $1.5m to develop including $360,000 to develop water infrastructure which is not being used as no blocks have sold as yet.

The catch is Mr Nan is paying Queensland Urban Utilities $97 per block, per quarter in water charges which he sees as excessive for a utility not in use.

"Bureaucracy at all levels of government is killing me. Thankfully Ian (Rickuss) has been supportive," he said.

Mr Nan said he had planned to develop Stage Two of a 30 block estate but has since shelved the idea "because it's just too hard".

"The industrial subdivision took 15 years from the time it was approved in council until the first block was sold which has employed up to 60 people," he said.

Mr Dickson said the housing development was a case in point surrounding the confusion and extra charges developers have to contend with.

"The government should be doing everything it can to assist people in this type of situation," Mr Dickson said.

"This is the perfect opportunity for them to step in and help."