Opp'n to blame for critical shortage of land in Kununurra

29/4/99
Premier Richard Court said today that the State Opposition was to blame for the critical shortage of land available for residential and light industrial use in Kununurra and other regional centres experiencing growth.
Visiting Kununurra today, Mr Court said the actions of the Labor Party in amending the State's proposed native title legislation was creating uncertainty and unnecessary delays for the people of Kununurra.
He was responding to questions from local residents who are concerned about the critical shortage of residential and light industrial land in the town.
The Premier was told that the land shortage was causing rents to rise and is stifling the growth of the town.
Mr Court said that the unacceptable Labor amendments to the Native Title (State Provisions) Bill 1998 late last year had prevented the State from having a fair and workable native title system.
"Instead, the State Government is forced to continue to use the costly and slow processes of the Commonwealth Native Title Act in its attempts to release more residential and light industrial land", he said.
"The people of Kununurra deserve better than this."
Mr Court called on the Labor Party to reconsider its position in relation to the proposed legislation.
"In Kununurra there are plans in place to release more land but the current system is thwarting the attempts to meet the growing needs of the community," the Premier said.
"The proposed Lakeside subdivisions would alone create 206 lots, an extension to the light industrial area providing 22 lots, 10 horticultural lots on River Farm Road, a commercial and community purpose area and a tourism site.
"The State Government is now required to process these subdivisions through the complex Commonwealth Native Title Act procedures rather than the more workable and timely State processes.
"The future of this State and in particular the future of regional centres such as Kununurra is dependent upon a workable native title system that can deal with land releases and future development projects in a timely and equitable manner."
Mr Court said there were also many leaseholders in the Kimberley, that had been placed in limbo by the Labor amendments to the Titles Validation Amendment Bill.
"Instead of providing these leaseholders with certainty and placing them beyond native title claims, the Opposition had left them exposed to claims and raised doubts about their ability to upgrade their leases or undertake new activities on the leases", he said.
Media Contact: Bronwyn Hillman 9222 9475