NSW’s peak legal body is calling for a significant review into the state’s compulsory acquisition laws to even the stakes between the government and landowners, who say they’ve been squeezed by officials buying lots for major infrastructure projects.
It comes as there are mounting questions from within the government about the adequacy of land acquisition laws as residents say they have been unjustly dealt with over landmark projects such as the Western Sydney Airport and Sydney Metro line. Labor MLC Daniel Mookhey, who sits on the upper house committee conducting the inquiry said two separate reviews, in 2014 and 2016, had warned the government that existing laws “stacked the deck” against families and businesses.
In a submission to the inquiry, Law Society president Juliana Warner said any uplift in value on land that occurred due to a new infrastructure project wasn’t available to a dispossessed landowner because of the definition of “market value” in the Land Acquisition Compensation Act.Minister for Western Sydney Stuart Ayres conceded at a parliamentary hearing in March there were serious questions over the adequacy of the acquisition laws.
“We suggest that resuming authorities should be obliged to reveal the basis for their offers. Instead, resuming authorities commonly indicate it is their ‘policy’ not to provide valuation reports until there is an exchange,” Ms Warner wrote.
AngusGthompson bit late for all who were driven to shocking mind states by nswpol projects like westconnex or the light rail upper house enquiries heard many sad stories of purchases of houses at lower rates by the RMS or other depts nswpol ? many in suburbs like sydenham and all the trees 😪
AngusGthompson GladysB Australia
AngusGthompson It's pretty good if you've got connections to the LNP. Get a great payout then!