Land Act 1994

An owner of improvements on a lease that has been surrendered may apply, in writing to the chief executive, to remove the owner’s improvements on the lease.

The owner may remove the improvements only with the written approval of, and within a time stated by, the chief executive.

The improvements become the property of the State if—

the chief executive has not given written approval for their removal; or

the chief executive has given written approval for their removal but the improvements have not been removed within the time stated by the chief executive.

However, if the lease the subject of surrender is leased or sold, the owner has a right to payment for the improvements under chapter 5, part 5.

In this section—

if the lessee owned the improvements—the lessee; or

a person who—

made the improvements on the land the subject of the surrender with the lessee’s authority; and

owned the improvements.