By XAVIER SMERDON
THEY are Wyndham’s forgotten residents and for the past four years they have been living in limbo.
More than 150 land owners from Little River have been unable to sell their homes since the State Government sent them letters informing them that their properties would be turned into a native grassland reserve.
For four years the residents have been counting every day as they wait to hear what their futures hold.
Bob and Philomena Burns, who have lived on their 50 acres for 25 years, are just two of the residents that claim they have been left in the dark.
“We’re being treated worse than prisoners because at least a prisoner knows when their sentence is going to end,” Mr Burns said.
“We’re prisoners but we haven’t been convicted.”
They are unable to sell their land because of their situation, and since the area was rezoned as conservational their property values have fallen by 50 per cent, as indicated by their latest rates notices.
Christine Evans has been forced to close the doors on her dog boarding kennel business because she simply does not know what will happen to her land.
“We’ve got no stability,” Ms Evans said.
“We don’t know if we’re going to be here in a few months or a few years.”
An original letter sent to all the landowners claimed that the Department of Environment and Primary Industries hoped to acquire all the properties within 10 years.
It is now hoped they will be acquired by 2030, which is not good enough for John Stevens, who owns 100 acres in the area.
“Our biggest asset is our property and it’s been frozen,” Mr Stevens said.
“We’ve got no control over it.”
The stress the residents are under is clear as they talk, and it is even claimed that it contributed to one land owner committing suicide.
A spokesperson for the Department of Environment and Primary Industries (DEPI) said they were committed to buying the properties as quickly as resources would allow it.
“DEPI is not able to meet all requests for immediate land acquisition but is working to acquire land as quickly as funds allow and will also respect the views of those who wish to stay on their land for a longer period,” the spokesperson said.
“The Western Grassland Reserves are required to offset the environmental impact of development within the Urban Growth Boundary. The future growth of Melbourne cannot proceed unless Commonwealth law requiring the protection of listed species and communities is satisfied.
“The reserves will protect habitat for threatened species including the Golden Sun Moth, Striped Legless Lizard, Plains-Wanderer, Growling Grass Frog, Spiny Rice-flower, Clover Glycine and Large-headed Fireweed.”
The affected land makes up a total 15,000 hectares.
