Media Release

Peter Gutwein MP
Tasmanian Liberal Member for Bass

Tuesday 2nd February 2010

Compensation must be on the table in Lilydale land debate

The Launceston City Council needs to clearly explain how it believes matters of compensation will be dealt with if a hydrological study of a private timber reserve in Lilydale results in the land not being able to be used as the owner wishes.

I understand that the Forest Practices Board has certified a forest practices plan and the owners of the property have acted lawfully. Whilst I am sympathetic to the concerns of local residents, the owners are only attempting to exercise their legal rights.

Therefore, if the Council now wants to have a further assessment conducted over and above what would normally be required it is only reasonable that they explain what compensation they believe should be paid if the land cannot be used as the owner wishes and importantly who pays the compensation.

My view is that before a hydrological assessment or any other study is agreed to by the owners the issue of how they might be fairly compensated should be addressed. The owners of the land have done nothing wrong and have complied with the law as it stands, whilst concerned local residents are only seeking to have their concerns addressed. The community deserves answers on this.

Furthermore, what needs to be taken into account is that the owners purchased this property on the understanding that it was gazetted as a private timber reserve in 1993 and therefore would available for use as a forestry reserve under an already agreed forest practices plan.

To ask the owners to risk losing the opportunity to use their land as they are lawfully allowed to without understanding the consequences is not on and further studies should not be undertaken until this important matter is addressed.

If the Launceston City Council believes that the owners should be fully compensated if this land cannot be utilised for its current lawful purpose then they should say that.

To do anything less serves neither the owner of the property nor the local community well.