LOGAN City Council has drawn a line in the sand, saying it will prioritise developments which do not require a Special Infrastructure Levy.
The move comes as council continues to fight the state government over its plans to charge residents of Yarrabilba and Greater Flagstone a levy over the next 30 years.
The council endorsed two new policy positions at last week's ordinary council meeting.
The first position states that council will "prioritise council's infrastructure delivery to those developments in the city where an upfront infrastructure charge is paid by developers rather than a Special Infrastructure Levy".
Economic development chairman Councillor Luke Smith said the new policy reinforced council's position.
"We've always had a position where we would much prefer developers in our city to pay their infrastructure charges at the time of development, rather than a levy scenario where residents are going to have to pay infrastructure charges over a 30-year period," he said.
"We've objected to the levy the whole way through and we're emphasising that that is our position because we don't believe that it's fair for residents to pick up the cost for profits made by developers."
If the levy goes ahead, Cr Smith said Yarrabilba's infrastructure would not be neglected.
"Whether it's through a levy or up front charge the infrastructure still has to be put in place," he said.
"It's just a matter of whether the money is available up front by the developer or whether the council has to borrow against that going into the future but residents need not be concerned about infrastructure.
"There might be a bit of a delay because we will only be able put in infrastructure we can afford to put in at the time which is why its much better for the developer to pay that up front."
Yarrabilba homeowner Ray McCabbin said he was unaware of plans for an infrastructure levy when he purchased his home.
"To impose it on the residents in hindsight after the event is totally unfair," he said.
"I think it would be fair to make Lend Lease pay it, if they can't pay it then it would be more fair to spread it among all the residents of Logan because people come from all over to use this park and the facilities."
A Lend Lease spokeswoman said the developer informs all buyers it deals with of the Special Infrastructure Levy.
"Lend Lease verbally mentions the levy as well as outlining it in our contract terms and conditions," she said.
The council's second policy position concerned the tankering of sewerage from new developments to the treatment plant.
"Council (is) not to enter into further tankering arrangements with developers in the city," it said.
