❓ A parliamentary question probes the Minister for Regional Development's involvement in the demolition of homes in Merredin, despite investment in infrastructure and potential buyers. The Minister denies direct involvement, deferring to the Public Transport Authority and Shire of Merredin's decision due to the properties' poor condition.
AnsweredQoN 405Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
MERREDIN — PUBLIC TRANSPORT AUTHORITY HOMES
(1) Given the minister’s commitment to provide $25 000 to people wanting to move to regional towns, can he explain his role in the government’s decision to demolish seven character homes in Merredin rather than sell them? (2) Can the minister confirm that he was aware that the Public Transport Authority had recently installed underground power and water and rear access for these lots to be sold? (3) Was he aware that there were buyers for these properties? Hon WENDY DUNCAN
(1) Given the minister’s commitment to provide $25 000 to people wanting to move to regional towns, can he explain his role in the government’s decision to demolish seven character homes in Merredin rather than sell them? (2) Can the minister confirm that he was aware that the Public Transport Authority had recently installed underground power and water and rear access for these lots to be sold? (3) Was he aware that there were buyers for these properties? Hon WENDY DUNCAN
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. The minister has responded — (1)-(3) The decision to demolish the houses was made by the owner of the houses, the Public Transport Authority, in consultation with the Shire of Merredin. The shire indicated that if the Public Transport Authority proceeded with the sale, it would immediately issue a work order condemning the buildings on the issue of a freehold title. The Minister for Regional Development has not had a role in the matter. However, as the member for Central Wheatbelt, he has supported the long-held view of the shire that the houses be demolished as their condition had deteriorated to such a state that they were unfit for human habitation and had become an eyesore at the main entry into Merredin.
(2) Can the minister confirm that he was aware that the Public Transport Authority had recently installed underground power and water and rear access for these lots to be sold? (3) Was he aware that there were buyers for these properties? Hon WENDY DUNCAN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. The minister has responded — (1)-(3) The decision to demolish the houses was made by the owner of the houses, the Public Transport Authority, in consultation with the Shire of Merredin. The shire indicated that if the Public Transport Authority proceeded with the sale, it would immediately issue a work order condemning the buildings on the issue of a freehold title. The Minister for Regional Development has not had a role in the matter. However, as the member for Central Wheatbelt, he has supported the long-held view of the shire that the houses be demolished as their condition had deteriorated to such a state that they were unfit for human habitation and had become an eyesore at the main entry into Merredin.
(3) Was he aware that there were buyers for these properties? Hon WENDY DUNCAN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. The minister has responded — (1)-(3) The decision to demolish the houses was made by the owner of the houses, the Public Transport Authority, in consultation with the Shire of Merredin. The shire indicated that if the Public Transport Authority proceeded with the sale, it would immediately issue a work order condemning the buildings on the issue of a freehold title. The Minister for Regional Development has not had a role in the matter. However, as the member for Central Wheatbelt, he has supported the long-held view of the shire that the houses be demolished as their condition had deteriorated to such a state that they were unfit for human habitation and had become an eyesore at the main entry into Merredin.
Hon WENDY DUNCAN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. The minister has responded — (1)-(3) The decision to demolish the houses was made by the owner of the houses, the Public Transport Authority, in consultation with the Shire of Merredin. The shire indicated that if the Public Transport Authority proceeded with the sale, it would immediately issue a work order condemning the buildings on the issue of a freehold title. The Minister for Regional Development has not had a role in the matter. However, as the member for Central Wheatbelt, he has supported the long-held view of the shire that the houses be demolished as their condition had deteriorated to such a state that they were unfit for human habitation and had become an eyesore at the main entry into Merredin.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. The minister has responded — (1)-(3) The decision to demolish the houses was made by the owner of the houses, the Public Transport Authority, in consultation with the Shire of Merredin. The shire indicated that if the Public Transport Authority proceeded with the sale, it would immediately issue a work order condemning the buildings on the issue of a freehold title. The Minister for Regional Development has not had a role in the matter. However, as the member for Central Wheatbelt, he has supported the long-held view of the shire that the houses be demolished as their condition had deteriorated to such a state that they were unfit for human habitation and had become an eyesore at the main entry into Merredin.
(1)-(3) The decision to demolish the houses was made by the owner of the houses, the Public Transport Authority, in consultation with the Shire of Merredin. The shire indicated that if the Public Transport Authority proceeded with the sale, it would immediately issue a work order condemning the buildings on the issue of a freehold title. The Minister for Regional Development has not had a role in the matter. However, as the member for Central Wheatbelt, he has supported the long-held view of the shire that the houses be demolished as their condition had deteriorated to such a state that they were unfit for human habitation and had become an eyesore at the main entry into Merredin.
(2) Can the minister confirm that he was aware that the Public Transport Authority had recently installed underground power and water and rear access for these lots to be sold? (3) Was he aware that there were buyers for these properties? Hon WENDY DUNCAN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. The minister has responded — (1)-(3) The decision to demolish the houses was made by the owner of the houses, the Public Transport Authority, in consultation with the Shire of Merredin. The shire indicated that if the Public Transport Authority proceeded with the sale, it would immediately issue a work order condemning the buildings on the issue of a freehold title. The Minister for Regional Development has not had a role in the matter. However, as the member for Central Wheatbelt, he has supported the long-held view of the shire that the houses be demolished as their condition had deteriorated to such a state that they were unfit for human habitation and had become an eyesore at the main entry into Merredin.
(3) Was he aware that there were buyers for these properties? Hon WENDY DUNCAN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. The minister has responded — (1)-(3) The decision to demolish the houses was made by the owner of the houses, the Public Transport Authority, in consultation with the Shire of Merredin. The shire indicated that if the Public Transport Authority proceeded with the sale, it would immediately issue a work order condemning the buildings on the issue of a freehold title. The Minister for Regional Development has not had a role in the matter. However, as the member for Central Wheatbelt, he has supported the long-held view of the shire that the houses be demolished as their condition had deteriorated to such a state that they were unfit for human habitation and had become an eyesore at the main entry into Merredin.
Hon WENDY DUNCAN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. The minister has responded — (1)-(3) The decision to demolish the houses was made by the owner of the houses, the Public Transport Authority, in consultation with the Shire of Merredin. The shire indicated that if the Public Transport Authority proceeded with the sale, it would immediately issue a work order condemning the buildings on the issue of a freehold title. The Minister for Regional Development has not had a role in the matter. However, as the member for Central Wheatbelt, he has supported the long-held view of the shire that the houses be demolished as their condition had deteriorated to such a state that they were unfit for human habitation and had become an eyesore at the main entry into Merredin.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. The minister has responded — (1)-(3) The decision to demolish the houses was made by the owner of the houses, the Public Transport Authority, in consultation with the Shire of Merredin. The shire indicated that if the Public Transport Authority proceeded with the sale, it would immediately issue a work order condemning the buildings on the issue of a freehold title. The Minister for Regional Development has not had a role in the matter. However, as the member for Central Wheatbelt, he has supported the long-held view of the shire that the houses be demolished as their condition had deteriorated to such a state that they were unfit for human habitation and had become an eyesore at the main entry into Merredin.
(1)-(3) The decision to demolish the houses was made by the owner of the houses, the Public Transport Authority, in consultation with the Shire of Merredin. The shire indicated that if the Public Transport Authority proceeded with the sale, it would immediately issue a work order condemning the buildings on the issue of a freehold title. The Minister for Regional Development has not had a role in the matter. However, as the member for Central Wheatbelt, he has supported the long-held view of the shire that the houses be demolished as their condition had deteriorated to such a state that they were unfit for human habitation and had become an eyesore at the main entry into Merredin.
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