AGY-2236 | Land Commission of NSW

Full description

The Land Commission of NSW was established as a corporation under Section 5 of the Land Commission Act (No. 62, 1976), which was assented to on 2 November 1976. (1) The Commission was presided over by three Commissioners as specified in Section 6 of the Act.

The purpose of the Land Commission was primarily the acquisition and development of land in order to ensure a continuity of supply of moderately priced allotments. This objective was to be achieved through the acquisition and sale of land to homebuilders at the lowest possible price, and the provision of land for public purposes, such as schools. The Commission was also required to conduct research into urban development issues, and to work with government and private bodies to promote appropriate urban development. (2)

In order to carry out its specified functions, general powers were granted to the Land Commission under Section 10 of the Lands Commission Act. These powers included:
(a) To control and manage land belonging to the Commission
(b) To close, realign any public road or part of a public road which is within or adjoining land belonging to the Commission
(c) To demolish any building on land belonging to the Commission of which it has exclusive possession
(d) To arrange the provision of utilities to land belonging to the Commission
(e) To subdivide and re-subdivide, or consolidate land belonging to the Commission
(f) To set out and construct roads on land belonging to the Commission
(g) To erect, improve and renovate buildings on land belonging to the Commission (3)

Sections 11 to 14 of the Lands Commission Act established the Commission's powers to acquire and sell land by purchase, sale, lease, exchange, gifts, or appropriation. (4)

The Land Commission was abolished as a corporation in 1986. The Housing Act (No. 163, 1985), effective from 1 January 1986, established the Department of Housing and the New South Wales Land and Housing Corporation to assume the statutory functions of the Former Housing and Land Commissions. (5) The Land Commission (Housing) Amendment Act (No. 165, 1985), effective from 3 December 1985, also consolidated the transition of powers relating to housing and land supply in the Department of Housing. (6) The NSW Lands Commission was integrated into the Department of Housing to become Landcom, a division of the Department. (7)

Endnotes
1. The Statutes of NSW. 1976 Vol 1 p.7
2. NSW Government Directory 1985 p.257
3. Op. cit. pp.6-7
4. Ibid. pp.7-11
5. NSW Department of Housing First Report, 1986 p.7
6. The Statutes of NSW 1985 Vol 2 p.3
7. NSW Government Directory 1987 p.181