The State Government has provided in-principle support for the Port Hedland Voluntary Buy-back Scheme, following extensive consultation with property owners and industry.

Development of the scheme follows the State Government's proposed planning controls in the West End following the recommendations from the Port Hedland Dust Management Taskforce report and subsequent representations from local landowners on the need for a voluntary buy-back option.

The voluntary scheme will apply to the area of land between Taplin Street and the port in the West End of Port Hedland that is subject to the draft West End Improvement Scheme, which is currently being advertised for public comment by the Western Australian Planning Commission.

The scheme is a voluntary option available to owners of the more than 400 permanent residential dwellings that are located within the draft improvement scheme area.

Eligible residential property owners will be offered a settlement price calculated as follows:

• the agreed market value of the property as at August 6, 2019 (indexed);
• a premium of 35 per cent of the agreed market value; and
• an amount of up to $20,000 for verifiable transaction costs.

The voluntary scheme will be funded by industry, with work under way to finalise the funding mechanism.

The scheme will be administered by the Pilbara Ports Authority and governed by a board of directors that will include representatives from the Pilbara Development Commission, DevelopmentWA, and the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage.

It is proposed the scheme would become available in the second half of 2020 and remain open for at least three years.

The delivery of the voluntary scheme will not in any way lessen industry and State Government responsibilities for dust mitigation in the West End.

Read the Minister's full statement here.