Cartographer urges Far South Coast landowners to oppose land title office sale

Howard MacKenzie and his partner Narelle Crowley are very concerned selling off the LPI administration division will have grave consequences for all NSW residents and are urging the NSW Government to rethink its privatisation plans.

“This in itself will affect every land and property owner in NSW,” Mr MacKenzie said. “Privatising the LPI administration will mean sensitive details could go overseas and also prices will go up as the new business owner tries to make money for its shareholders.”

“It might not arise until 30 years when a problem becomes apparent,” Ms Crowley added.

She said what was already missing from the LPI department since drastic cutbacks in resources and staff was the “human element” and the experience of people such as her partner to detect problems in items such as land titles.

Mr MacKenzie as a cartographer has always been involved in mapping, including working 10 years in the Lands Department, as well as working overseas in Canada and also as a town planner.

While working for the then Roads and Traffic Authority, he was involved in the drawing up the plans for the Victoria Creek bypass at Tilba, including the acquisition of private land for the highway realignment.

His partner Ms Crowley has been coming to Narooma for holidays since the age of five, while he has been coming to the area with her for the past 16 years. When not on holiday, they live in Gladesville, Sydney.

The couple said Premier Gladys Berejiklian was not telling the truth when she said that the privatisation would not have negative impacts on residents and claim the money of the sale is earmarked for two massive stadiums in Sydney. They said a similar proposal was dropped in the UK and provinces in Canada were now trying to “unscramble the egg” and go back to a government-run land title service.