Surplus Land Disposal

In reply to the Hon. J.A. DARLEY (9 September 2021).

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer): The Minister for Planning and Local Government has advised:

Premier and Cabinet Circular 114—Government Real Property Management (PC114) describes cabinet policy on the utilisation, purchase and disposal of government real property.

PC114 includes policies and procedures designed to assist agencies to, amongst other things, enable ready identification of underutilised or surplus property from an agency perspective and assessing, from an agency, whole-of-government and state strategic perspective, the merits of retaining or disposing of property.

Under PC114 government agencies are required to regularly evaluate their ownership and/or occupation of real property and this is the context for the current review.

In accordance with the requirements of PC114, Attorney-General’s Department has been undertaking a review of all land within the Minister for Planning and Local Government’s portfolio.

Total holdings consist of more than 1,000 hectares of land throughout various areas of the state—including within the metropolitan area and regions.

PC114 provides mechanisms to ensure that sites of strategic significance are efficiently identified and assessed to ensure maximum community benefit from government tenure and use of its property holdings.

The current review process is expected to be finalised in the coming months.