MP considered forced sale of Albion Park Rail Bypass land

This is according to the emailed minutes of a meeting Mr Ward had with senior Roads and Maritime Services staff in their Wollongong office on August 4.

This meeting was also the one that sparked Mr Ward’s claims the council was “blackmailing” the government over land acquisition.

The minutes – which were emailed within RMS after Mr Ward went public with his claim – were received by the Illawarra Mercury following a Freedom of Information request.

RMS had been negotiating with Shellharbour Council over acquiring Croome Road Sporting Complex land, which was in the path of the Albion Park Rail Bypass.

READ MORE: Fears over three-year delay of Albion Park Rail Bypass

During the meeting, which was also attended by RMS senior project manager Adrian Rouse and others, Mr Ward looked to end negotiations and take the land via compulsory acquisition.

“GW asked about the process around compulsory acquisition – and if we could move to do this now,” the emailed minutes stated.

“AR explained that RMS would still like to successfully negotiate voluntary access so that the impacts on sporting clubs are reduced.”

The emailed minutes contain no references to RMS staff saying council was stalling on the property acquisition – which was the source of Mr Ward’s “blackmail” claim.

However, several paragraphs of the email have been redacted.

Speaking on Friday, Mr Ward said the negotiations with council had improved.

“I’m convinced as a result of some of the statements that I’ve made council has certainly smartened up its act and there’s no doubt we are in a much better position now than we were when I made the statements that I did,” Mr Ward said.

Shellharbour council general manager Carey McIntyre said it was planning to avoid compulsory acquisition.

“Council is working with the RMS in all aspects of the project including the processes required for acquisition of land required for the proposed route of the road,” Mr McIntyre said.