Southeast Queensland's mayors want to trial an alternative means of financing large infrastructure projects – modelled on a European scheme in place in 28 cities – and get big projects ready sooner.
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Southeast Queensland has a large number of rail, road and health projects needed to cope with increasing congestion but state and federal government do not have sufficient funds for all projects.
Business delays from traffic congestion will increase five-fold in 15 years, from $1.91 billion in 2011 to $9.2 billion in 2031 and an extra 2.2 million people will live in Southeast Queensland in three decades.
A Southeast Queensland version of the United Kingdom's successful 2013 UK City Deals funding scheme has been developed over the past 12 months with the Property Council of Australia.
Consultants KPMG were asked by the Southeast Queensland mayors to investigate transferring the UK City Deals scheme to Queensland.
This model is being investigated by deputy premier Jackie Trad as she tours London, Singapore, Bonn and Dusseldorf speaking with transport and infrastructure funding bodies.
The model does not involve adding an extra levy or charge on developers, but taps into the increasing rates, infrastructure charges, stamp duty and levies paid to state government and councils.
An agreement between the levels of government over 12 to 15 years allows more borrowings as the economy grows, which generates additional revenue to government at state and local levels.
Ms Trad on Monday specifically rejected imposing extra levies on property developers.
"Developers already make a contribution towards the cost of trunk infrastructure, including water, sewer, stormwater, community infrastructure and parks," a spokeswoman said.
"It is deliberate scaremongering for the LNP to allege home owners near major transport facilities will be taxed," she said.
"This claim is false and completely bogus."
Ms Trad said plans to build a Cross River Rail under Woolloongabba had the potential to boost the development potential of underutilised government land like the Go Print site at Woolloongabba.
"Residential and commercial development above the station could help reduce the costs of undertaking this vital piece of public transport given the uplift in property values associated with proximity to public transport."
The Gold Coast has already seen new development proposals attracted to the route of the Gold Coast light rail project.
Queensland Property Council executive director Chris Mountford said the model has been discussed with deputy premier Jackie Trad and the mayors of Queensland's biggest councils.
The Queensland Government does not intend to levy developers, he said.
"We understand that this is not the intention of the Government," Mr Mountford said.
"Adding a new tax on top of this is double-dipping, and introduces an unfair and inefficient new mechanism, which will only serve to create a two-tiered market."
Mr Mountford said adapting the "UK City Deals" model to Queensland was worth exploring.
"Where new infrastructure is built that facilitates development and economic activity, governments are significant beneficiaries through increased rates, infrastructure charges, stamp duties and payroll tax," he said.
Fairfax Media understands the main stumbling block in Queensland is an agreement on establishing which projects would go first.
However Infrastructure Australia in May 2015 said it would establish a priority list of infrastructure projects for all states by Christmas 2015.
"Basically the KPMG report found it was workable, with some considerations," a source said.
The Southeast Council of Mayors wants to trial the scheme in their region, which covers Brisbane, Gold and Sunshine coasts, Moreton Bay, Redlands, Ipswich and Redlands.
