Paradise Interchange park ‘n’ ride to be axed after parking tax gets voted down

A PROMISED park ‘n’ ride at the popular Paradise Interchange will be the first project to be axed now the car park tax is dead.

A PROMISED park ‘n’ ride at the popular Paradise Interchange will be the first project to be axed now the car park tax is dead.

The Liberals, Family First and John Darley joined forces in State Parliament’s Upper House, last night, to vote down the State Government’s proposed Transport Development Levy.

The move blows a $120 million hole into the State Budget.

The tax would have imposed a $750-a-year charge per car park, which was expected to cost drivers up to $6 extra a day to park.

Opposition treasury spokesman Rob Lucas said stopping the introduction of the tax was in the interests of South Australian businesses and struggling families.

Transport Minister Stephen Mullighan said the Government would have to review its 30-year transport plan, which outlined a timeline for new tram lines, rail and road upgrades.

“The Paradise park ‘n’ ride is the first victim of what looks to be a terrible decision by (Liberal MP for Hartley) Vincent Tarzia and (Opposition Leader) Steven Marshall,” he said.

“We also talked about other measures to reduce congestion around the city. The Deputy Premier late last year released the Integrated Transport and Land Use plan that spelt out many tram extensions, for example, and other upgrades around the city.

“These are the sorts of things now which become incredibly difficult for the Government to deliver. We’ll be looking at releasing the final plan as quickly as possible.”