A WA parliamentarian questions the Minister for Transport regarding compensation for a hotel proprietor in Pinjarra impacted by the traffic bridge restoration. The Minister acknowledges the issue and offers further investigation by Main Roads.

AnsweredQoN 368Legislative Council
Asked
19 October 2000
Portfolio
Transport

QuestionView source ↗

(1) Is the minister aware that - (a) the proprietor of the Premier Hotel in Pinjarra went out of his way to accommodate the needs of Main Roads and its contractors in the restoration of the Pinjarra traffic bridge; (b) the said contractors took over much of Mr O’Brien’s car park while also using the hotel’s water and facilities for a period of over two months; (c) Mr O’Brien suffered considerable inconvenience and a marked decline in trade as a result of this partial occupation of the hotel site; and (d) the said contractors paid Mr O’Brien $900 compensation, being an amount of $100 per week for nine weeks, and referred him to Main Roads for additional compensation to make up for lost earnings? (2) Has the Government considered Mr O’Brien’s request for compensation? (3) Will the Government or the contractor provide additional compensation in view of the circumstances as outlined? (4) If not, why not? Hon M.J. CRIDDLE

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(4) I was not aware of the issue until I spoke with the member about it last night. However, preliminary advice from Main Roads indicates that the arrangements for the contractor to use the hotel car park and water were established directly between the contractor and the hotel proprietor. Main Roads has no involvement in this arrangement. In relation to the compensation issue, I advise that it is not normal practice for Main Roads to compensate firms for alleged loss of trade. It must be recognised that the upgrading of community infrastructure, such as roadworks, footpath upgrades, new sewer lines and underground cabling, may at times be inconvenient and have a commercial impact. However, these matters need to be considered on a case-by-case basis; therefore, I am happy for the matter to be further investigated by Main Roads.
(b) the said contractors took over much of Mr O’Brien’s car park while also using the hotel’s water and facilities for a period of over two months; (c) Mr O’Brien suffered considerable inconvenience and a marked decline in trade as a result of this partial occupation of the hotel site; and (d) the said contractors paid Mr O’Brien $900 compensation, being an amount of $100 per week for nine weeks, and referred him to Main Roads for additional compensation to make up for lost earnings?
(c) Mr O’Brien suffered considerable inconvenience and a marked decline in trade as a result of this partial occupation of the hotel site; and (d) the said contractors paid Mr O’Brien $900 compensation, being an amount of $100 per week for nine weeks, and referred him to Main Roads for additional compensation to make up for lost earnings?
(d) the said contractors paid Mr O’Brien $900 compensation, being an amount of $100 per week for nine weeks, and referred him to Main Roads for additional compensation to make up for lost earnings?
(3) Will the Government or the contractor provide additional compensation in view of the circumstances as outlined? (4) If not, why not? Hon M.J. CRIDDLE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(4) I was not aware of the issue until I spoke with the member about it last night. However, preliminary advice from Main Roads indicates that the arrangements for the contractor to use the hotel car park and water were established directly between the contractor and the hotel proprietor. Main Roads has no involvement in this arrangement. In relation to the compensation issue, I advise that it is not normal practice for Main Roads to compensate firms for alleged loss of trade. It must be recognised that the upgrading of community infrastructure, such as roadworks, footpath upgrades, new sewer lines and underground cabling, may at times be inconvenient and have a commercial impact. However, these matters need to be considered on a case-by-case basis; therefore, I am happy for the matter to be further investigated by Main Roads.
(4) If not, why not? Hon M.J. CRIDDLE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(4) I was not aware of the issue until I spoke with the member about it last night. However, preliminary advice from Main Roads indicates that the arrangements for the contractor to use the hotel car park and water were established directly between the contractor and the hotel proprietor. Main Roads has no involvement in this arrangement. In relation to the compensation issue, I advise that it is not normal practice for Main Roads to compensate firms for alleged loss of trade. It must be recognised that the upgrading of community infrastructure, such as roadworks, footpath upgrades, new sewer lines and underground cabling, may at times be inconvenient and have a commercial impact. However, these matters need to be considered on a case-by-case basis; therefore, I am happy for the matter to be further investigated by Main Roads.
Hon M.J. CRIDDLE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(4) I was not aware of the issue until I spoke with the member about it last night. However, preliminary advice from Main Roads indicates that the arrangements for the contractor to use the hotel car park and water were established directly between the contractor and the hotel proprietor. Main Roads has no involvement in this arrangement. In relation to the compensation issue, I advise that it is not normal practice for Main Roads to compensate firms for alleged loss of trade. It must be recognised that the upgrading of community infrastructure, such as roadworks, footpath upgrades, new sewer lines and underground cabling, may at times be inconvenient and have a commercial impact. However, these matters need to be considered on a case-by-case basis; therefore, I am happy for the matter to be further investigated by Main Roads.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(4) I was not aware of the issue until I spoke with the member about it last night. However, preliminary advice from Main Roads indicates that the arrangements for the contractor to use the hotel car park and water were established directly between the contractor and the hotel proprietor. Main Roads has no involvement in this arrangement. In relation to the compensation issue, I advise that it is not normal practice for Main Roads to compensate firms for alleged loss of trade. It must be recognised that the upgrading of community infrastructure, such as roadworks, footpath upgrades, new sewer lines and underground cabling, may at times be inconvenient and have a commercial impact. However, these matters need to be considered on a case-by-case basis; therefore, I am happy for the matter to be further investigated by Main Roads.
(1)-(4) I was not aware of the issue until I spoke with the member about it last night. However, preliminary advice from Main Roads indicates that the arrangements for the contractor to use the hotel car park and water were established directly between the contractor and the hotel proprietor. Main Roads has no involvement in this arrangement. In relation to the compensation issue, I advise that it is not normal practice for Main Roads to compensate firms for alleged loss of trade. It must be recognised that the upgrading of community infrastructure, such as roadworks, footpath upgrades, new sewer lines and underground cabling, may at times be inconvenient and have a commercial impact. However, these matters need to be considered on a case-by-case basis; therefore, I am happy for the matter to be further investigated by Main Roads.
In relation to the compensation issue, I advise that it is not normal practice for Main Roads to compensate firms for alleged loss of trade. It must be recognised that the upgrading of community infrastructure, such as roadworks, footpath upgrades, new sewer lines and underground cabling, may at times be inconvenient and have a commercial impact. However, these matters need to be considered on a case-by-case basis; therefore, I am happy for the matter to be further investigated by Main Roads.

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