It could be a while before ratepayers find out the real cost of the new public transport interchange at Dickson after the ACT government revealed the family they acquired the land from are yet to name a price for it.
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About 3000 square metres of land on the east side of Northbourne Avenue, bordered by Challis Street, was subject to a compulsory acquisition by the government in late 2015.
Land records show the former owner was Chung Yi Developments, a company whose registered address is at a Sydney consulting firm.
Australian Securities and Investment Commission records showed the company's two shareholders and a third director are members of the same Taiwan-based family.
A spokeswoman from the Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate said officials recently met with the lessee, solicitors and valuers to discuss the lodgement of a claim for compensation.
The lessee agreed to consider lodging a compensation claim "in the near future".
The spokeswoman said there would be no issue with negotiations continuing post bus station completion.
"There is no time limit in the Lands Acquisition Act 1994 for when a lessee may lodge a claim for compensation. Until a claim for compensation is received, this amount is unknown," she said.
Since 1996, the ACT government has used compulsory acquisitions nine times to procure land.
The acquisitions were for road realignments and infrastructure projects and the total cost paid for compensation so far is approximately $1 million.
The bus station at Dickson will act as a transfer station for passengers between light rail and bus services when the Dickson light rail interchange opens.
The project budget is $4.25 million, although costs will be finalised once the project is completed and the compensation claim is settled. It is part of the $20 million City to Gungahlin project.
Earlier in May the government released the designs for 12 stops, from the Gungahlin Place terminus to Eloura Street in Braddon. The design for the Alinga Street Interchange will be released separately.
The design is open for feedback until June 2 on the National Capital Authority website.
