What is compulsory acquisition?

Government authorities can acquire private land for public purposes. If the authority cannot reach an agreement with the landowner through negotiation, they can compulsorily acquire the land.

The following pages outline the:

  • government’s role in land acquisition
  • laws that govern land acquisition for a public purpose
  • cases that may differ from the general information in this guide.

In October 2016, the government improved the NSW land acquisition system, making it more transparent, more balanced and easier to navigate.

Please see the NSW Government’s Property Acquisition website for more information on these improvements.

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