By Bridie Byrne
DISTRESSED Brimbank families have been calling law firms after learning they will lose their homes under the new Urban Growth Boundary blueprint.
Up to 300 properties could be purchased under the land grab, with the UGB expanding by another 41,000ha.
The State Government had begun the process of notifying residents last week in affected areas that their homes or land will be compulsorily acquired.
Up to 70 properties will be affected by the Tarneit rail line from Werribee to Sunshine.
The major construction phase is set to start next year and be complete by 2014.
A new Outer Metropolitan Ring Road would require the purchase of 152 existing homes from Werribee to Mill Park, but land will not be needed until the works get under way in 2020.
Close to 140 properties are within the two proposed 15,000ha grassland reserves at Mount Cottrell and Little River.
The government has now taken action to reserve the land to cater for suburban growth.
Slater & Gordon’s lawyer Roger Batrouney said their appointment books were flooded with people seeking advice.
“When someone hears their house they have been living in for 10 or 20 years is going to be acquired, it is a massive dislocation to their life,” he said.
“It’s something that can be managed, but when you don’t make the decision to sell your house and someone makes it for you it’s a shock.”
Mr Batrouney said homeowners had to ensure they would not be short-changed.
“Governments are not in the business of losing money. They have a job to do,” he said.
“Compensation is typically only payable at the time that the land is formally compulsorily acquired.”
But he said the Planning and Environment Act did provide property owners in some situations with the ability to bring forward their entitlements.
Have you received a notice of acquisition? Contact Star journalists Bridie Byrne or Cimara Pearce on 9933 4803 or 9933 4802 or email bridie.byrne@starnewsgroup.com.au or cimara.pearce@starnewsgroup.com.au.
