The state government is set to repeal the act standing in the way of developing a long-stalled primary school in East Perth on contested land owned by the City of Perth.
The state government is set to repeal the act standing in the way of developing a long-stalled primary school in East Perth on contested land owned by the City of Perth.
But Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas has blasted the move, saying the state government “should not use their position of power to effectively steal people's land.”
The East Perth Primary School has been earmarked for part of a 2.6-hectare site on Nelson Crescent- the Queens Gardens Car Park- owned by the City of Perth and valued at $40 million.
The land has been the subject of heated debate between the state government and the City of Perth, namely Mr Zempilas, with the City initially supporting the proposed development before knocking back the state's land transaction proposal.
Today, the state government said it was planning to introduce legislation this week to repeal the Chevron-Hilton Hotel Agreement Act 1960, which stipulates the land can only be used as a car park.
"Every time this state government doesn't get its own way, they spit the dummy, and change legislation to bully their way through,” Mr Zempilas said in response to the legalisation introduction announcement.
"West Australians should be horrified by this government's conduct. Where will it stop? The arrogance of absolute power.
"They are taking land they valued at $40 million off the ratepayers of the City of Perth - for nothing. This is outrageous."
The state government said repealing the act will provide the land for the construction of the new primary school, expected to accommodate 800 students and ease pressure on surrounding schools in the area.
It said the legalisation would also unlock a parcel of the site to be retained by the City and clear the way for future housing. The state said the portion of the land to be retained by the City was estimated to be worth more than $27 million.
The City will also receive $4.2 million in compensation for forgone car parking revenue over the area of land earmarked for the school’s construction.
The state government said that payment would assist the City in preparing the site adjacent to the school for residential development opportunities.
The proposed East Perth Primary School was tipped to open in 2028, but the state government said it was now expected to open the school in 2029.
It pinned the delay on “the City of Perth’s decision to block the school, after originally supporting it”, it said in a statement today.
If it gets legs, it would become the first public primary school in the City of Perth.
“The City of Perth has requested successive governments over several decades to repeal the Chevron Act and terminate the State Agreement, none of which have progressed until now,” Education Minister Tony Buti said.
“A new primary school is the ideal catalyst for this to happen.
“As Education Minister, my priority is ensuring young people, and their families have access to a great public education close to home and this new primary school will offer that for people in our capital city.”
The Chevron-Hilton Hotel Agreement Act 1960, which governs the use of the carpark land, was introduced ahead of the 1962 Empire Games, the predecessor to the Commonwealth Games.
It is understood the land was acquired by the City from private owners in the 1960s as part of a deal with the state to allow the development of a hotel during preparations for the games.
But the Chevron-Hilton, as it was to be known, was never built and a restriction of the alternative use of the land as parking was incorporated in the Chevron-Hilton Act.
