18/11/03
The Western Australian business community's access to Government land and property information took a colossal step forward today with the launch of the online land and property portal Landgate.
Landgate is an interactive website which delivers ease of access to integrated land information and transactions with Government departments.
Land Information Minister Nick Griffiths said Landgate was the first online land and property portal in Australia which directly linked specific business needs with relevant Government information.
"By establishing Landgate as a technical platform through which information from different sources can be accessed, businesses will now be able to package and customise the information they extract from a range of Government departments to suit their particular business requirements," Mr Griffiths said.
"Landgate users will be able to view property online and access information like survey data, water rates, land tenure classifications and search out taxation obligations."
The Department of Land Information is also making available aerial photography, topographic and cadastre information so users will be able to obtain the most comprehensive view of the piece of land.
"In the past, the information has been available in a variety of formats," the Minister said.
"However, this is the first time it has been brought together in this way to enhance functionality.
"This project delivers business benefits and demonstrates how the Government's move towards streamlined services through an e-government framework can increase access and generate cost savings for the community."
Landgate will contain five service channels. One of those channels is a conveyancing channel, which contains information from the Water Corporation, Office of State Revenue, Department of Land Information and local government.
"This channel will not only provide access to Government services 12 hours per day, seven days a week, it also has the potential to save the conveyancing industry up to $500,000 annually in administration and bank costs," Mr Griffiths said.
The real success of Landgate relies on the partnered arrangements between Government departments and business.
"Now that we have the technical capacity, we can potentially bring together all the land related data contained in Governmental departments to generate new or more relevant services for the community," the Minister said.
Government departments have already seen the efficiency advantages in using this technology and the Department for Planning and Infrastructure will make metropolitan regional maps available free of charge to the public via a Planning Channel in Landgate.
The value of Landgate will expand as more agencies supply information.
"With increasing technical functionality added to Landgate, combined with new information added over time from participating agencies, the benefits of this project will expand," Mr Griffiths said.
Access the Landgate website at http://www.landgate.com.au
Minister's office: 9222 8950
