[Peetwo]

Leppington Triangle coverup update??

Greens review of ASA Annual Report - 

From Senator Rice in the Senate Chamber yesterday:

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Senator RICE (Victoria—Deputy Australian Greens Whip) (16:01): 

...Another issue raised in this report that is of relevance is the scandal of the land purchase at the Leppington Triangle. We now know that the department ignored the impact of noise controls when requesting the valuation. So we think some of the work that's been done on aircraft noise for Western Sydney Airport definitely deserves further scrutiny, and we're going to be seeking further information on where corners may have been cut...

Western Sydney Airport

Order for the Production of Documents

[img=44x0]https://www.aph.gov.au/api/parliamentarian/231199/image[/img]Senator URQUHART (Tasmania—Opposition Whip in the Senate) (12:23): At the request of Senators Watt and Sterle, I move:

That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Population, Cities and Urban Infrastructure, by no later than 5.30 pm on 18 November 2020, the 10 written briefings on the acquisition of the Leppington Triangle land between the period November 2015 to November 2019 (including any annotations of decision makers), which are referenced in paragraph 4.1 on page 57 of the Auditor-General's report no.9 of 2020-21, Purchase of the 'Leppington Triangle' land for the future development of Western Sydney Airport, as follows, 'The ANAO examined the 10 written briefings on the acquisition of the Leppington Triangle that were submitted to the head of the Western Sydney Unit, to senior officials elsewhere in the department (the 'decision-makers') and/or to portfolio Ministers. The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications ('Department of Infrastructure' or 'the department') confirmed to the ANAO that these constituted the total population of briefings on the topic. The briefings spanned a four-year period from November 2015 to November 2019'.

Question agreed to.

And from RRAT Estimates additional public hearing:

NB. Not a fan of Wong Qwon but this entire session was fascinating and if you've got the time well worth watching. Once published?? will put up the Hansard.


MTF...P2 

One mans POV.

Funny thing is 'opinion' and point of view and it is remarkable how a single conversation can change both. The furore over the 'Leppington Triangle' and the political points scoring it has created was, is, and remains only a thing of passing interest; however.

Was introduced to a fellah recently who is 'actually' a developer and knows a bit about the way things are done and how 'value' is decided. Someone was banging on about the difference three million v 30 millions, when that was over this fellah said that given the chance he would happily pay more than 30 Mil for that 'corner' and the Govt. had got a good deal. Well, that shut the conversation down and in a while there was just he and I sat there. “Why, in simple terms?” I asked. Paraphrased the answer, and, as near as I can fathom it:-

“As a cow paddock, 'zoned' agricultural, the land is, at best worth 3 millions. But that land is an 'essential' block for the airport and surrounding industry. So the land must be 're-zoned' to industrial commercial development. If the present owners managed to 're-zone' that land, it would become worth 30M overnight. The owners cannot achieve this, but the Commonwealth can and they will make a serious return, through tax from the developers; it is a good investment long term as it keeps paying a return as development increases.”

I admit it made sense; and if true then it seems that someone has been very shrewd and actually worked out how to maximise the returns on an infrastructure project. Perhaps if that someone explained the 'logic' of the purchase, properly, then some of the sound and fury would abate.

Don't know as if I give a continental about the whole thing – but thought it worth a scribble. (If only to shut 'Wong' up) .

Toot – toot.

P2 - As promised Hansard link...  HERE or HERE