Friction Grows as WA’s Public Art Levies Jack Up Project Costs

A $200,000 public art levy has been overturned, a nearly $70,000 demand has survived and a $4.56-million contribution remains in place, exposing the growing friction between WA developers and local government planning policies.

A first-time apartments developer who fought the imposition of the $200,000 public art contribution—and won—is proposing a moratorium on such local government levies until the housing crisis abates.

Brett Carboni is one of three proponents known by The Urban Developer to have contested since September a requirement of many of WA’s municipalities for developers of major projects to part with 1 per cent of the building cost for public art.