Govt offers Traveston land to ex-owners

People who sold their properties to make way for the failed Traveston Crossing Dam
will be able to buy them back at the same price under a six-month buy-back scheme.
The dam planned for the Mary River near Gympie, north of Brisbane, was rejected by
the federal government last week, and the state government will not challenge the
decision.
Queensland Premier Anna Bligh on Monday announced a buy-back offer, waiving a rule
that properties could only be re-purchased for their selling price for 12 months
after the sale.
"I know that these people's lives have been disrupted and they have lived with
uncertainty for a number of years because of this project," Ms Bligh said in a
statement.
"In the circumstances we want to be as generous as possible and that's why the state
will waive any stamp duty charges and pay for legal fees for these original
landowners.
"What that means is that these people will not be out of pocket on the sale of their
land. They can have it back for exactly what the government paid for it."
The government will write to former landowners or their solicitors with the offer
and place notices in newspapers.
In June 2010, it will look at other options to recover the cost of purchasing any
land not re-purchased under the scheme.
In mid-2006, the government initiated a voluntary land purchase program, after
concerns residents would be left in limbo during the environmental assessment
process.
A total of 494 properties were purchased, with 237 of the former owners still living
in their homes under various tenancy arrangements.