Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas said while the City of Perth had been negotiating in good faith with the Department of Education over the potential sale of land, the State Government had been drafting legislation to effectively take the land from the City and its ratepayers.
 
“This State government is taking City or Perth land valued at $40 million from the ratepayers of the City Perth for nothing,” Mr Zempilas said. 
 
“The City of Perth has been trying to negotiate with the Department of Education for fair compensation for this land which is owned by the ratepayers of the City of Perth.
 
“Rather than negotiate in good faith, the State Government has been working on legislation behind the scenes and will introduce it to compulsorily acquire this land from the ratepayers of the City of Perth.
 
“We offered the state six options including land swaps, funding for community-based projects, leasing arrangements over state owned carparks and a reduction in the Perth Parking Levy.  But the state government has chosen to take our land.”
 
The City of Perth has long advocated for a city primary school in East Perth.
 
The City of Perth and its ratepayers will lose 513 parking bays and the ongoing associated revenue, equating to $1.5 million per year.
 
ENDS
 
Issued by: media@cityofperth.wa.gov.au