The owner of property, which has been designated in an approved planning scheme for a public purpose, who can demonstrate that he or she will suffer hardship if there is a delay in acquisition, may request that the relevant government agency purchase the property. The government agency may purchase the property by agreement if funds are available. The public sector is increasingly finding it necessary and desirable to identify proposed public works on planning schemes well in advance of the need for actual acquisition and construction. The approach is necessary to achieve the required level of coordination across the public sector for infrastructure provision. It also has the added advantage of reducing anxiety or community reaction which inevitably occurs when major public works are undertaken without any form of prior statement of intent.
People are able to make their own plans and investment decisions if they know of schemes in advance.
As a consequence of forward planning proposals the value of property involved may be diminished or it may not be possible to sell the property at full market value in a reasonable timeframe, or the owner may be unable to develop or use the property for a purpose which would normally be allowed under local government planning controls, due mainly to the existence of an infrastructure planning proposal. Hardship can arise when such an owner cannot wait for acquisition to occur in the normal timeframe which is usually just prior to construction taking place. A property owner may be forced to sell without delay for pressing personal, domestic or social reasons or in order to avoid the loss or a substantial reduction in income. Under these circumstances a government agency may agree to acquire the property if funds are available. Government agencies have limited funds for the acquisition of property and must balance funding requirements for hardship purposes against community needs for the services and infrastructure provided by a particular agency.