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Acquisition of land to commence for AirParkCompulsory acquisition of outstanding land required for expansion of the Latrobe Regional Airport and the associated AirPark will commence in the next few weeks. By Latrobe Shire Council - 16th July 2004 - Back to News The move to compulsory acquisition follows two years of negotiations with owners of properties adjacent to the Latrobe Regional Airport identified as being required to facilitate the airport’s expansion and the establishment of the AirPark.
Latrobe City’s Acting Chief Executive Officer, Paul Buckley, said that owners of the majority of the land earmarked for expansion of the airport and AirPark had reached a settlement with Latrobe City Council during the past two years. "Reluctantly, Council is now forced to use compulsory acquisition to secure the remaining titles," Mr Buckley said.
Mr Buckley said that failure by Council to take action through compulsory acquisition would jeopardise future job creation at the airport. "Sustainable job creation is vital for the region and it would be irresponsible of Council to shirk its clear duty to facilitate the airport’s expansion by failing to act.
"We have witnessed the incredible growth in jobs at Gippsland Aeronautics from a handful of employees a couple of years ago to more than 120 today. The growth clearly demonstrates what is achievable when corporate vision, together with encouragement and facilitation by local and state governments, is exhibited.
"The further expansion of Gippsland Aeronautics beyond its current precinct, the servicing and release of the AirPark allotments to potential tenants who have already expressed interest, and the active marketing of the development is now reliant on the completion of the acquisition program.
"Compulsory acquisition is the normal course of action by government instrumentalities when acquiring land for public purposes. The Land Acquisition and Compensation Act provides a process of acquisition which is designed to be fair to both parties and to balance the interests of the land owner with those of the public on whose behalf the purchase is being made," Mr Buckley said.
"Council has engaged in a process of seeking to negotiate with affected property owners in the first instance. However, as further avenues for meaningful negotiation now appear to have become exhausted, compulsory acquisition remains the only way forward.
"It is worth remembering that the option for affected landowners to sell to Council by private treaty remains up until the point when Council completes the compulsory acquisition process in each case. Equally, it must be noted that the financial arrangements are likely to be the same for compulsory acquisition, so there is no advantage or disadvantage to either party. Compulsory acquisition is simply a means of now progressing the airport’s development" Mr Buckley said
"The Board, the existing Airport community and potential new tenants all await the completion of the acquisition program so that the Latrobe Regional Airport may proceed with the bold vision authorised by Latrobe City Council on behalf of the people of the Latrobe Valley and Gippsland," Mr Buckley added.
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: news@gippsland.com
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