Introduction

Taking land compulsorily for public projects, such as roads and airports, is understood and accepted as a proper use of powers of acquisition. This book is primarily about this use of the compulsory acquisition power. However, there are increasing signs of tension in this country arising from the use of such powers by privatised undertakings, such as the water and electricity industries. There is resistance to the use of these powers where a private undertaking is able to profit from the taking of land at a price that disregards the value of the land to the project.