Compulsory Acquisition Bill to be Discussed in Parliament

Council's artist impression of the future Parramatta
THE COALITION nor the Greens will support a controversial proposed law, allowing the Parramatta City Council the right to purchase private land and transfer it to Melbourne-based developer Grocon, for a profit.

The Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Amendment Bill, proposed last month, would allow the council the right to acquire land owned by Ray Fazzolari and Michael Winston-Smith. The land would be used to develop the $1.4 million Civic Place development. The bill follows a High Court of Australia decision which prevented the council from increasing its Civic Place land parcel.

Compulsory acquisition powers was discussed at yesterday’s shadow cabinet meeting.

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Former Petrol Station Earmarked For New North Fitzroy Library

The City of Yarra council is insistent on building a library near North Fitzroy’s picturesque Edinburgh Gardens.

A year after the Greens voted down a controversial council proposal to build a library within the grounds of the gardens, The Melbourne Times is reporting council is formalising a plan to compulsorily acquire a site at 182 – 196 St Georges Road, on the south-west corner of Best Street.

The proposed library site was formerly a petrol station.

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