State Government land-grab to leave Inner West millions short

Monday, 4 March 2019

The State Government is leaving the Inner West in limbo about a proposed compulsory acquisition of Council-owned land in Tempe, which would create an annual $3 million hole in Council’s budget.

The properties set to be acquired for the Sydney Gateway project include key investment lands currently occupied by the Tyne Container Yards and Tempe Golf Driving Range, Council’s depot on Swamp Road and part of the Tempe lands recreation area.

The lease of some of these lands earns Council over $3 million each year in rental income, a significant contribution to the Inner West’s yearly budget.

Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne said that unless the State Government provided proper compensation, Council and the community could face savage cuts to services and infrastructure.

“We can’t nail down long term planning until we know what the State Government is planning to do,” he said

“Council relies on more than $3 million of income provided by these investment lands to pay for infrastructure renewal programs across the local government area.

“Unless the Government provides at fair compensation for this acquisition, Council cannot hope to plug the gap in its yearly budget with ongoing income or interest.”

The acquisition could also leave Council holding the bag for management of a $700,000 a year plant managing contaminated ground water that originates on the land to be taken by the State.

Council has asked that Roads and Maritime Services take on the responsibility for the Leachate Plant, but they have yet to respond.

Mayor Byrne said that the financial blow could be substantial to the inner west community.

“Over 10 years we’re looking at a $37 million hole in Council’s budget and service delivery,” he said.

“We need some answers about how the State Government is going to address this enormous shortfall.”

Roads and Maritime Services have engaged an agency to provide a valuation of the property.

Council is calling on the State Government to make sure that reparation offered will compensate for the lack of income and the massive drain it will have on the inner west.