Certified Valuations, Melbourne, VIC

Certified Valuations was established in 2004 and Gary Cocks, the principal of Certified Valuations personally prepares all valuations issued by the practice. Gary Cocks has in excess of 30 years experience in property market activities and is a long-time member of the Australian Property Institute holding Certified Practising Valuer designation. Gary Cocks has developed particular expertize assessing compensation in land acquisition matters. Throughout Victoria land acquisition and compensation is a topical matter. Private land is continually acquired by government and others for suburban transport projects, easements are acquired for gas and water pipelines, triggering compensation and compensation is also often due to landholders for mining access. Expansion and reconfiguration of regional road networks also leads to the acquisition of private land which gives rise to compensation. In addition State and Federal Government efforts to retain natural vegetation and provide vast swathes of grasslands on Melbourne's outskirts require the acquisition of private land and significant compensation will be payable to meet this policy objective. Furthermore the activities of the MPA in providing better planning for the future of Melbourne is also leading to the early reservation of significant private landholdings for public purposes which will result in compensation to the landowner.