Sydney Metro West: Government issues $22k bill for vacated properties in Clyde
A property owner whose land was acquired for the Sydney Metro West has been slugged a $22,000 bill for rent of shopfronts he vacated over a month ago.
Central Sydney
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Property owners stuck in limbo without compensation from the Sydney Metro West have lashed out — now refusing to pay rent after the NSW Government took ownership of their properties more than two months ago with no sign of payment in sight.
Clyde business owner Endree Saade has been slugged with a $22,000 bill for the leasing of his own land, acquired by the NSW Government in March, despite vacating four out of five shopfronts in April.
In response to Sydney Metro demands for payment, Mr Saade told representatives he was “not paying a cent”, while accusing acquisition staff of bullying and intimidation.
“Sydney Metro have purposely delayed our compenation and, from the onset, tried to bully us,” Mr Saade said.
“I refuse to pay a cent for I have not been compensated.”
Mr Saade told the Parramatta Advertiser he vacated all but one warehouse in Clyde over a month ago, however, Sydney Metro has refused to finalise the vacation of the properties as rent is owed.
“Our legal team is advising us not to pay — it is bullying and unfair,” he said.
“We haven’t been able to run our businesses since the government acquired the properties, and now we have found out they have told the Valuer General there is no value in our businesses.
“The government is also refusing to pay stamp duty for the businesses.”
A Sydney Metro spokesman said it was “very conscious that the acquisition of a home or business is a difficult time and we work closely with owners and tenants to support them through this process”.
“This includes allowing property owners and tenants to remain in the properties as long as reasonably possible, subject to project timeframes,” he said.
“Sydney Metro will continue to work will all property owners to ensure they understand all stages of the property acquisition process and to support them through the process.”
EARLIER: METRO LAND OWNERS IN LIMBO AS NEW STATIONS REVEALED
The NSW Government has not revealed the levels of compensation expected for desperate land and business owners — whose properties have been acquired for the multibillion-dollar Sydney Metro West project — within legislated timeframes.
On May 5, NewsLocal revealed it had been more than 45 days since Sydney Metro acquired 70 properties of land and business owners objecting to the level of compensation offered by the project, instead calling on the NSW Valuer-General to decide how much they are owed by the state.
According to the NSW “Just Terms Compensation Act”, the State Government must give the former owner of a property written notice of acquisition, entitlement to compensation and the the amount of compensation offered as determined by the Valuer General within 45 days of acquiring the land.
However, a spokesman for the Valuer General said four determinations had been handed down out of 70.
A Valuer General spokesman told NewsLocal the Valuer General was “undertaking determinations of compensation and has so far provided 25 landholders with a draft report, and is awaiting a response”.
“While the Valuer General endeavours to complete determinations as efficiently as possible, he has no control over the submission of information by landholders or the acquiring authority, and waiting for information can extend the timeframe for the determination process.
“As a result, a date for completion of all determinations cannot be provided at this time.”
Despite the Valuer General waiting on submissions from Sydney Metro, a department spokesman said Metro “concluded the acquisition process for properties between Westmead to The Bays as per the statutory timeframes set out in the Just Terms Act”.
“As per the Just Terms Act, those matters in which Sydney Metro were unable to reach an agreement were referred to the Valuer General to independently determine the compensation to be paid.
“Sydney Metro has no direct control or visibility of the Valuer General’s independent progress of finalising compensation determinations.”
The state of limbo for land and business owners comes as the NSW Government confirmed two new Metro West stations at Pyrmont and Hunter Street in the Sydney CBD.
On Wednesday morning, Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the Hunter Street station will have one entrance on the corner of Hunter and George Streets, and another on the corner of Bligh and O’Connell Streets, connecting customers to suburban rail lines as well as light rail.
“The city-shaping Sydney Metro West project will revitalise the western gateway to the Sydney CBD, while creating 10,000 direct and 70,000 indirect jobs,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“The new Hunter Street station is strategically located in the heart of Sydney, allowing commuters to easily connect to Sydney Trains at Wynyard and Martin Place, and Sydney Metro at Martin Place.
“Commuters at Martin Place will be able to connect to the new Hunter Street station via proposed underground walkways, making it easier and quicker for people to change lines and travel right across our city.”
Meanwhile, Transport Minister Andrew Constance revealed the future Pyrmont Station will be located between Pyrmont Bridge Road and Union Street, “providing easy access to Pyrmont Bridge”.
“From Pyrmont, commuters will be able to travel to Hunter Street in just two minutes – giving them back valuable time with their families and doing things they enjoy, while also encouraging investment in the Pyrmont area,” Mr Constance said.
A Transport spokeswoman said the department was working with the impacted owners and tenants of 11 commercial buildings in the CBD and another two commercial buildings in Pyrmont.
However, Newhouse & Arnold Solicitors acquisitions specialist, David Newhouse said the NSW Government “needs to get its house in order” before putting more businesses through the ‘stress and uncertainty’ of the acquisition process with the announcement of the new Pyrmont and Hunter Street Stations.
MORE FROM JAKE McCALLUM
Sydney Metro West: land gazettal reveals number of offers refused by business, land owners
Sydney Metro West acquisitions: business owners reject government compensation offers
Sydney Metro West acquisition: property owners in limbo as land gazettal delayed
Sydney Metro West: NSW Government delay completion date until 2030
“With over 100 businesses and properties affected, this should have been done slowly, on a piecemeal basis, as the commercial market will now be flooded, pushing prices and rents up as businesses scramble to relocate,’ Mr Newhouse told NewsLocal.
“The NSW Government is dragging the chain with final determinations still not being issued for more than 60 affected owners and businesses from the last tranche of acquisitions.
“It is the same Sydney Metro acquisition officers that were involved in the Burwood, Westmead, Parramatta and Clyde Station acquisitions, who are already door knocking the Hunter Street and Pyrmont businesses.
“Sydney Metro should be finalising the claims of owners affected by previous projects before moving on to other sites.”
Pyrmont and Hunter Street now join the other station locations which have been confirmed for Sydney Metro West - Westmead, Parramatta, Sydney Olympic Park, North Strathfield, Burwood North, Five Dock and The Bays.
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