❓ Mr. Watson questions the Premier regarding the Esplanade Hotel site in Albany, specifically about the owner's response to demands for development or sale and the possibility of compulsory acquisition. The Premier confirms the government's stance and ongoing engagement with the owners.
AnsweredQoN 21Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ESPLANADE HOTEL SITE, ALBANY
21. Mr P.B. WATSON to the Premier:
I refer to the site of the old Esplanade Hotel in Albany and
the Premier's demands during the election that he would take the land
back if the owners did not sell or develop it.
(1) What was the response from the
owners of the site to the Premier's demands?
(2) Will the government still
compulsorily acquire the land if the Premier's demands are not met?
21. Mr P.B. WATSON to the Premier:
I refer to the site of the old Esplanade Hotel in Albany and
the Premier's demands during the election that he would take the land
back if the owners did not sell or develop it.
(1) What was the response from the
owners of the site to the Premier's demands?
(2) Will the government still
compulsorily acquire the land if the Premier's demands are not met?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2)
The Esplanade Hotel, which is a nice boutique hotel on Middleton Beach in
Albany, has been very neglected and it is a very poor situation that the hotel
had been demolished by the owners and left as an eyesore. It is vacant land
with socks hanging off the wire fence. That has not only held back Albany's
tourism potential, but also been a blight on the Albany town site. During the
election campaign—maybe even before it —
Mr
P.B. Watson : During.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Fine. I made it very clear that that was unacceptable. We wrote to the owners—we
had to track them down—and said that, as a government, we expected
something to happen on that site and that if they were not prepared to develop
it themselves, they should sell it, and that if they were not prepared to do
that, the state would look at what powers it might use. That situation remains
the case. They have replied to the government. I have not yet read the letter,
but my understanding is that they may look to sell the site. We simply want to
see the site developed and that eyesore corrected.
The Esplanade Hotel, which is a nice boutique hotel on Middleton Beach in
Albany, has been very neglected and it is a very poor situation that the hotel
had been demolished by the owners and left as an eyesore. It is vacant land
with socks hanging off the wire fence. That has not only held back Albany's
tourism potential, but also been a blight on the Albany town site. During the
election campaign—maybe even before it —
Mr
P.B. Watson : During.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Fine. I made it very clear that that was unacceptable. We wrote to the owners—we
had to track them down—and said that, as a government, we expected
something to happen on that site and that if they were not prepared to develop
it themselves, they should sell it, and that if they were not prepared to do
that, the state would look at what powers it might use. That situation remains
the case. They have replied to the government. I have not yet read the letter,
but my understanding is that they may look to sell the site. We simply want to
see the site developed and that eyesore corrected.
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