❓ Mr Grylls raises concerns about a derelict PTA-owned property in Merredin. The Minister acknowledges the issue, expresses frustration with the PTA's handling of it, and commits to finding a solution, including potential demolition.
AnsweredQoN 756Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
LOT 1420 GREAT EASTERN HIGHWAY, MERREDIN - PUBLIC TRANSPORT AUTHORITY DEVELOPMENT
I refer to the unsightly housing and fencing located on lot 1420, Great Eastern Highway, Merredin, and the development plans by the Public Transport Authority that were approved more than a year ago. (1) Does the PTA intend to proceed with its proposed development, and if so, when; or if the PTA does not intend to proceed with this development, what other options are being considered for this lot? (2) As the lot in its current state is not compliant with the Shire of Merredin’s local fencing laws, will the minister give an undertaking to rectify this problem in a reasonable time frame? (3) Will the minister immediately address the community and shire concerns that this lot detracts from the entrance to Merredin, and in its current state is also a fire hazard? Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN
I refer to the unsightly housing and fencing located on lot 1420, Great Eastern Highway, Merredin, and the development plans by the Public Transport Authority that were approved more than a year ago. (1) Does the PTA intend to proceed with its proposed development, and if so, when; or if the PTA does not intend to proceed with this development, what other options are being considered for this lot? (2) As the lot in its current state is not compliant with the Shire of Merredin’s local fencing laws, will the minister give an undertaking to rectify this problem in a reasonable time frame? (3) Will the minister immediately address the community and shire concerns that this lot detracts from the entrance to Merredin, and in its current state is also a fire hazard? Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question and for notice of the question. (1)-(3) The situation is, quite frankly, unacceptable. I must say that the advice I have been getting from the agency, the Public Transport Authority, is quite confused and in some instances contradictory. It is unacceptable that housing has been allowed to fall into such a state of disrepair. I am getting conflicting advice from the PTA about whether the housing is capable of being restored. I can confirm that the intention, as far as I can understand it, is to proceed with the application for subdivision. The subdivision is yet to be approved and the PTA is saying that it will take another year to complete, which seems to me to be a bit beyond the pale. As I said, we are getting conflicting advice about whether it makes sense to sell the houses for restoration and whether anyone would be prepared to do that. I believe personally that it would be a very desirable outcome to restore those houses. I have proposed that we set up a meeting with the relevant PTA personnel, and we will invite the member for Merredin to come along to that meeting so that we can work out a plan of action. We will not allow the situation to continue as is. If there is no capacity to restore these houses in a practical way, we will demolish the properties as quickly as possible while we await subdivision approval. I thank the member for raising the matter with me. I do think that government agencies must take more care with these sorts of properties under their jurisdiction.
(1) Does the PTA intend to proceed with its proposed development, and if so, when; or if the PTA does not intend to proceed with this development, what other options are being considered for this lot? (2) As the lot in its current state is not compliant with the Shire of Merredin’s local fencing laws, will the minister give an undertaking to rectify this problem in a reasonable time frame? (3) Will the minister immediately address the community and shire concerns that this lot detracts from the entrance to Merredin, and in its current state is also a fire hazard? Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN replied: I thank the member for the question and for notice of the question. (1)-(3) The situation is, quite frankly, unacceptable. I must say that the advice I have been getting from the agency, the Public Transport Authority, is quite confused and in some instances contradictory. It is unacceptable that housing has been allowed to fall into such a state of disrepair. I am getting conflicting advice from the PTA about whether the housing is capable of being restored. I can confirm that the intention, as far as I can understand it, is to proceed with the application for subdivision. The subdivision is yet to be approved and the PTA is saying that it will take another year to complete, which seems to me to be a bit beyond the pale. As I said, we are getting conflicting advice about whether it makes sense to sell the houses for restoration and whether anyone would be prepared to do that. I believe personally that it would be a very desirable outcome to restore those houses. I have proposed that we set up a meeting with the relevant PTA personnel, and we will invite the member for Merredin to come along to that meeting so that we can work out a plan of action. We will not allow the situation to continue as is. If there is no capacity to restore these houses in a practical way, we will demolish the properties as quickly as possible while we await subdivision approval. I thank the member for raising the matter with me. I do think that government agencies must take more care with these sorts of properties under their jurisdiction.
(2) As the lot in its current state is not compliant with the Shire of Merredin’s local fencing laws, will the minister give an undertaking to rectify this problem in a reasonable time frame? (3) Will the minister immediately address the community and shire concerns that this lot detracts from the entrance to Merredin, and in its current state is also a fire hazard? Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN replied: I thank the member for the question and for notice of the question. (1)-(3) The situation is, quite frankly, unacceptable. I must say that the advice I have been getting from the agency, the Public Transport Authority, is quite confused and in some instances contradictory. It is unacceptable that housing has been allowed to fall into such a state of disrepair. I am getting conflicting advice from the PTA about whether the housing is capable of being restored. I can confirm that the intention, as far as I can understand it, is to proceed with the application for subdivision. The subdivision is yet to be approved and the PTA is saying that it will take another year to complete, which seems to me to be a bit beyond the pale. As I said, we are getting conflicting advice about whether it makes sense to sell the houses for restoration and whether anyone would be prepared to do that. I believe personally that it would be a very desirable outcome to restore those houses. I have proposed that we set up a meeting with the relevant PTA personnel, and we will invite the member for Merredin to come along to that meeting so that we can work out a plan of action. We will not allow the situation to continue as is. If there is no capacity to restore these houses in a practical way, we will demolish the properties as quickly as possible while we await subdivision approval. I thank the member for raising the matter with me. I do think that government agencies must take more care with these sorts of properties under their jurisdiction.
(3) Will the minister immediately address the community and shire concerns that this lot detracts from the entrance to Merredin, and in its current state is also a fire hazard? Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN replied: I thank the member for the question and for notice of the question. (1)-(3) The situation is, quite frankly, unacceptable. I must say that the advice I have been getting from the agency, the Public Transport Authority, is quite confused and in some instances contradictory. It is unacceptable that housing has been allowed to fall into such a state of disrepair. I am getting conflicting advice from the PTA about whether the housing is capable of being restored. I can confirm that the intention, as far as I can understand it, is to proceed with the application for subdivision. The subdivision is yet to be approved and the PTA is saying that it will take another year to complete, which seems to me to be a bit beyond the pale. As I said, we are getting conflicting advice about whether it makes sense to sell the houses for restoration and whether anyone would be prepared to do that. I believe personally that it would be a very desirable outcome to restore those houses. I have proposed that we set up a meeting with the relevant PTA personnel, and we will invite the member for Merredin to come along to that meeting so that we can work out a plan of action. We will not allow the situation to continue as is. If there is no capacity to restore these houses in a practical way, we will demolish the properties as quickly as possible while we await subdivision approval. I thank the member for raising the matter with me. I do think that government agencies must take more care with these sorts of properties under their jurisdiction.
Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN replied: I thank the member for the question and for notice of the question. (1)-(3) The situation is, quite frankly, unacceptable. I must say that the advice I have been getting from the agency, the Public Transport Authority, is quite confused and in some instances contradictory. It is unacceptable that housing has been allowed to fall into such a state of disrepair. I am getting conflicting advice from the PTA about whether the housing is capable of being restored. I can confirm that the intention, as far as I can understand it, is to proceed with the application for subdivision. The subdivision is yet to be approved and the PTA is saying that it will take another year to complete, which seems to me to be a bit beyond the pale. As I said, we are getting conflicting advice about whether it makes sense to sell the houses for restoration and whether anyone would be prepared to do that. I believe personally that it would be a very desirable outcome to restore those houses. I have proposed that we set up a meeting with the relevant PTA personnel, and we will invite the member for Merredin to come along to that meeting so that we can work out a plan of action. We will not allow the situation to continue as is. If there is no capacity to restore these houses in a practical way, we will demolish the properties as quickly as possible while we await subdivision approval. I thank the member for raising the matter with me. I do think that government agencies must take more care with these sorts of properties under their jurisdiction.
I thank the member for the question and for notice of the question. (1)-(3) The situation is, quite frankly, unacceptable. I must say that the advice I have been getting from the agency, the Public Transport Authority, is quite confused and in some instances contradictory. It is unacceptable that housing has been allowed to fall into such a state of disrepair. I am getting conflicting advice from the PTA about whether the housing is capable of being restored. I can confirm that the intention, as far as I can understand it, is to proceed with the application for subdivision. The subdivision is yet to be approved and the PTA is saying that it will take another year to complete, which seems to me to be a bit beyond the pale. As I said, we are getting conflicting advice about whether it makes sense to sell the houses for restoration and whether anyone would be prepared to do that. I believe personally that it would be a very desirable outcome to restore those houses. I have proposed that we set up a meeting with the relevant PTA personnel, and we will invite the member for Merredin to come along to that meeting so that we can work out a plan of action. We will not allow the situation to continue as is. If there is no capacity to restore these houses in a practical way, we will demolish the properties as quickly as possible while we await subdivision approval. I thank the member for raising the matter with me. I do think that government agencies must take more care with these sorts of properties under their jurisdiction.
(1)-(3) The situation is, quite frankly, unacceptable. I must say that the advice I have been getting from the agency, the Public Transport Authority, is quite confused and in some instances contradictory. It is unacceptable that housing has been allowed to fall into such a state of disrepair. I am getting conflicting advice from the PTA about whether the housing is capable of being restored. I can confirm that the intention, as far as I can understand it, is to proceed with the application for subdivision. The subdivision is yet to be approved and the PTA is saying that it will take another year to complete, which seems to me to be a bit beyond the pale. As I said, we are getting conflicting advice about whether it makes sense to sell the houses for restoration and whether anyone would be prepared to do that. I believe personally that it would be a very desirable outcome to restore those houses. I have proposed that we set up a meeting with the relevant PTA personnel, and we will invite the member for Merredin to come along to that meeting so that we can work out a plan of action. We will not allow the situation to continue as is. If there is no capacity to restore these houses in a practical way, we will demolish the properties as quickly as possible while we await subdivision approval. I thank the member for raising the matter with me. I do think that government agencies must take more care with these sorts of properties under their jurisdiction.
(1) Does the PTA intend to proceed with its proposed development, and if so, when; or if the PTA does not intend to proceed with this development, what other options are being considered for this lot? (2) As the lot in its current state is not compliant with the Shire of Merredin’s local fencing laws, will the minister give an undertaking to rectify this problem in a reasonable time frame? (3) Will the minister immediately address the community and shire concerns that this lot detracts from the entrance to Merredin, and in its current state is also a fire hazard? Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN replied: I thank the member for the question and for notice of the question. (1)-(3) The situation is, quite frankly, unacceptable. I must say that the advice I have been getting from the agency, the Public Transport Authority, is quite confused and in some instances contradictory. It is unacceptable that housing has been allowed to fall into such a state of disrepair. I am getting conflicting advice from the PTA about whether the housing is capable of being restored. I can confirm that the intention, as far as I can understand it, is to proceed with the application for subdivision. The subdivision is yet to be approved and the PTA is saying that it will take another year to complete, which seems to me to be a bit beyond the pale. As I said, we are getting conflicting advice about whether it makes sense to sell the houses for restoration and whether anyone would be prepared to do that. I believe personally that it would be a very desirable outcome to restore those houses. I have proposed that we set up a meeting with the relevant PTA personnel, and we will invite the member for Merredin to come along to that meeting so that we can work out a plan of action. We will not allow the situation to continue as is. If there is no capacity to restore these houses in a practical way, we will demolish the properties as quickly as possible while we await subdivision approval. I thank the member for raising the matter with me. I do think that government agencies must take more care with these sorts of properties under their jurisdiction.
(2) As the lot in its current state is not compliant with the Shire of Merredin’s local fencing laws, will the minister give an undertaking to rectify this problem in a reasonable time frame? (3) Will the minister immediately address the community and shire concerns that this lot detracts from the entrance to Merredin, and in its current state is also a fire hazard? Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN replied: I thank the member for the question and for notice of the question. (1)-(3) The situation is, quite frankly, unacceptable. I must say that the advice I have been getting from the agency, the Public Transport Authority, is quite confused and in some instances contradictory. It is unacceptable that housing has been allowed to fall into such a state of disrepair. I am getting conflicting advice from the PTA about whether the housing is capable of being restored. I can confirm that the intention, as far as I can understand it, is to proceed with the application for subdivision. The subdivision is yet to be approved and the PTA is saying that it will take another year to complete, which seems to me to be a bit beyond the pale. As I said, we are getting conflicting advice about whether it makes sense to sell the houses for restoration and whether anyone would be prepared to do that. I believe personally that it would be a very desirable outcome to restore those houses. I have proposed that we set up a meeting with the relevant PTA personnel, and we will invite the member for Merredin to come along to that meeting so that we can work out a plan of action. We will not allow the situation to continue as is. If there is no capacity to restore these houses in a practical way, we will demolish the properties as quickly as possible while we await subdivision approval. I thank the member for raising the matter with me. I do think that government agencies must take more care with these sorts of properties under their jurisdiction.
(3) Will the minister immediately address the community and shire concerns that this lot detracts from the entrance to Merredin, and in its current state is also a fire hazard? Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN replied: I thank the member for the question and for notice of the question. (1)-(3) The situation is, quite frankly, unacceptable. I must say that the advice I have been getting from the agency, the Public Transport Authority, is quite confused and in some instances contradictory. It is unacceptable that housing has been allowed to fall into such a state of disrepair. I am getting conflicting advice from the PTA about whether the housing is capable of being restored. I can confirm that the intention, as far as I can understand it, is to proceed with the application for subdivision. The subdivision is yet to be approved and the PTA is saying that it will take another year to complete, which seems to me to be a bit beyond the pale. As I said, we are getting conflicting advice about whether it makes sense to sell the houses for restoration and whether anyone would be prepared to do that. I believe personally that it would be a very desirable outcome to restore those houses. I have proposed that we set up a meeting with the relevant PTA personnel, and we will invite the member for Merredin to come along to that meeting so that we can work out a plan of action. We will not allow the situation to continue as is. If there is no capacity to restore these houses in a practical way, we will demolish the properties as quickly as possible while we await subdivision approval. I thank the member for raising the matter with me. I do think that government agencies must take more care with these sorts of properties under their jurisdiction.
Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN replied: I thank the member for the question and for notice of the question. (1)-(3) The situation is, quite frankly, unacceptable. I must say that the advice I have been getting from the agency, the Public Transport Authority, is quite confused and in some instances contradictory. It is unacceptable that housing has been allowed to fall into such a state of disrepair. I am getting conflicting advice from the PTA about whether the housing is capable of being restored. I can confirm that the intention, as far as I can understand it, is to proceed with the application for subdivision. The subdivision is yet to be approved and the PTA is saying that it will take another year to complete, which seems to me to be a bit beyond the pale. As I said, we are getting conflicting advice about whether it makes sense to sell the houses for restoration and whether anyone would be prepared to do that. I believe personally that it would be a very desirable outcome to restore those houses. I have proposed that we set up a meeting with the relevant PTA personnel, and we will invite the member for Merredin to come along to that meeting so that we can work out a plan of action. We will not allow the situation to continue as is. If there is no capacity to restore these houses in a practical way, we will demolish the properties as quickly as possible while we await subdivision approval. I thank the member for raising the matter with me. I do think that government agencies must take more care with these sorts of properties under their jurisdiction.
I thank the member for the question and for notice of the question. (1)-(3) The situation is, quite frankly, unacceptable. I must say that the advice I have been getting from the agency, the Public Transport Authority, is quite confused and in some instances contradictory. It is unacceptable that housing has been allowed to fall into such a state of disrepair. I am getting conflicting advice from the PTA about whether the housing is capable of being restored. I can confirm that the intention, as far as I can understand it, is to proceed with the application for subdivision. The subdivision is yet to be approved and the PTA is saying that it will take another year to complete, which seems to me to be a bit beyond the pale. As I said, we are getting conflicting advice about whether it makes sense to sell the houses for restoration and whether anyone would be prepared to do that. I believe personally that it would be a very desirable outcome to restore those houses. I have proposed that we set up a meeting with the relevant PTA personnel, and we will invite the member for Merredin to come along to that meeting so that we can work out a plan of action. We will not allow the situation to continue as is. If there is no capacity to restore these houses in a practical way, we will demolish the properties as quickly as possible while we await subdivision approval. I thank the member for raising the matter with me. I do think that government agencies must take more care with these sorts of properties under their jurisdiction.
(1)-(3) The situation is, quite frankly, unacceptable. I must say that the advice I have been getting from the agency, the Public Transport Authority, is quite confused and in some instances contradictory. It is unacceptable that housing has been allowed to fall into such a state of disrepair. I am getting conflicting advice from the PTA about whether the housing is capable of being restored. I can confirm that the intention, as far as I can understand it, is to proceed with the application for subdivision. The subdivision is yet to be approved and the PTA is saying that it will take another year to complete, which seems to me to be a bit beyond the pale. As I said, we are getting conflicting advice about whether it makes sense to sell the houses for restoration and whether anyone would be prepared to do that. I believe personally that it would be a very desirable outcome to restore those houses. I have proposed that we set up a meeting with the relevant PTA personnel, and we will invite the member for Merredin to come along to that meeting so that we can work out a plan of action. We will not allow the situation to continue as is. If there is no capacity to restore these houses in a practical way, we will demolish the properties as quickly as possible while we await subdivision approval. I thank the member for raising the matter with me. I do think that government agencies must take more care with these sorts of properties under their jurisdiction.
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