Local Government Law and Planning: Reflective Report on Corkman Site

This report presents a reflective analysis of a media article concerning the compulsory acquisition of the Corkman pub site in Carlton. The student, drawing upon their planning experience, argues that acquiring the undeveloped land is less costly than acquiring developed land. The report aligns with the author's view, emphasizing the potential for significant cost savings through government acquisition of the undeveloped land. The student suggests that effective planning can rehabilitate the site, generate revenue, and ensure legal accountability. The report references the Planning and Environment Act and highlights the benefits of the government's investment in the site's development for tourism revenue and overall public benefit. The student agrees with the author's view that government should acquire the undeveloped land to save millions of dollars and rehabilitate the site.

Local Government Law and Planning 1
LOCAL GOVERNMENT LAW AND PLANNING
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Local Government Law and Planning 2
Local Government Law and Planning
The article “Push for state to forcibly acquire Corkman site from cowboy developers” by
Lucas Clay provides an insight on the issue surrounding the acquisition of Carlton’s Corkman
pub site. The developers illegally demolished the hotel in the pub site and that the state should
have taken the land for its value as an undeveloped site that would have lowered the costs of
acquisition. The author considers that the government should not have opted to compulsory
acquisition because it is costly (Clay, 2018).
With my experience in planning, I believe that acquiring a property that not been
developed by the commercial developers is less costly than the land that has been developed. The
acquisition of land should not be compulsory since compulsory acquisition will necessitate the
government to spend more millions that if it was not a compulsory acquisition. I believe that
compulsory acquisition could need the land to be bought at its highest possible value. Therefore,
the government through the law can compulsorily acquire the land at its present underdeveloped
value under the provisions of section 172 of the Planning and Environment Act (Clay, 2018).
Finally, I agree with the author that there is a need to allow the government to acquire the
undeveloped land in order to save millions of dollars. This means that after the acquisition, the
government will be able to rehabilitate the land and use as a park to benefit the country. Effective
planning will enable the government to rehabilitate the site and ensure that the offenders face the
law. This is an important investment for the government that will allow the development of the
site and will benefit the country in terms of revenues from tourism (QC, 2015).

Local Government Law and Planning 3
List of References
Clay, L. (2018). “Push for state to forcibly acquire Corkman site from cowboy developers”. The
Age. Retrieved June 5, 2019 from https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/push-for-
state-to-forcibly-acquire-corkman-site-from-cowboy-developers-20190531-p51tc0.html.
QC, M. J. (2015). “Law of Compulsory Land Acquisition”. Sydney: Thomson Reuters
(Professional) Australia Pty Limited.