MP on fence over land payments
Hamilton West MP Tim Macindoe says landowners impacted by development in the city’s south should be treated fairly — but has stopped short of calling for financial compensation.
The National MP has met with affected landowners and said they raised ‘‘valid concerns’’ about their treatment by Hamilton City Council. The council is using the Public Works Act (PWA) to acquire the property rights for 39 properties as part of the $366 million transformation of Peacocke.
Peacocke is Hamilton’s showpiece development in the south and could see as many as 8000 houses built there. In some cases, the council has acquired land for zero dollars, arguing landowners will reap significant increases to their property values due to the public works. A council report on Peacocke presented in May noted staff were having several difficult conversations with landowners.
Macindoe wants landowners and the council to talk through their differences without resorting to ‘‘an expensive process where everything is ultimately decided by lawyers’’.
Under the PWA, ratepayers pay for landowners’ legal and valuation advice. However, the council is not required to fund appeals through to the Land Valuation Tribunal. Macindoe said landowners accept their land will be acquired by the council but want fair treatment.
‘‘While I understand the principle of betterment, I still think most people would really struggle with the idea that, you could be a landowner who loses a portion of your land under compulsory acquisition and is told that, at the end of the day, there is no financial compensation for that because your compensation is effectively coming through an increase in capital value to your land at a future date.’’
Macindoe expected to meet with council staff to discuss landowners’ concerns but wouldn’t commit to calling for financial compensation.
Speaking to earlier, city council strategic development manager Andrew Parsons said many affected property owners will experience an uplift in their property value of $200,000 – $400,000 due to the public works. A bundle of landowners are sitting in the $1m-$4m property band.