The WA government intends to draft Wittenoom-specific legislation to allow for the compulsory acquisition of *unoccupied* properties, while preferring voluntary resident relocation. Current legislation doesn't permit compulsory acquisition.

AnsweredQoN 438Legislative Council
Asked
15 June 2006
Portfolio
Kimberley, Pilbara and Gascoyne

QuestionView source ↗

WITTENOOM - ACQUISITION OF PROPERTIES
Is it the intention of the government to legislate so that the government can acquire properties in Wittenoom from residents who do not leave voluntarily; and, if so, why? Hon KIM CHANCE

AnswerView source ↗

On behalf of the Minister for the Kimberley, Pilbara and Gascoyne, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for some notice of this question. The preferred option is to negotiate with residents to leave Wittenoom voluntarily. Under existing legislation, the government does not have the authority for the compulsory acquisition of Wittenoom properties. The government intends to draft Wittenoom-specific legislation to provide this authority. However, the draft would enable the compulsory acquisition of unoccupied property only.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: On behalf of the Minister for the Kimberley, Pilbara and Gascoyne, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for some notice of this question. The preferred option is to negotiate with residents to leave Wittenoom voluntarily. Under existing legislation, the government does not have the authority for the compulsory acquisition of Wittenoom properties. The government intends to draft Wittenoom-specific legislation to provide this authority. However, the draft would enable the compulsory acquisition of unoccupied property only.
On behalf of the Minister for the Kimberley, Pilbara and Gascoyne, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for some notice of this question. The preferred option is to negotiate with residents to leave Wittenoom voluntarily. Under existing legislation, the government does not have the authority for the compulsory acquisition of Wittenoom properties. The government intends to draft Wittenoom-specific legislation to provide this authority. However, the draft would enable the compulsory acquisition of unoccupied property only.

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