North East Link route: long-term Manningham residents fear they will lose homes

PEOPLE who have lived in Manningham for decades fear they will be forced out of their homes to make way for the North East Link, with confirmation all four routes will involve compulsory acquisition.

All four route options will involve compulsory acquisition, the North East Link Authority has confirmed.

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PEOPLE who have lived in Manningham for more than 50 years fear they will be forced out of their homes to make way for the North East Link.

Communities remain in limbo with the North East Link Authority confirming last week all four options for the link, three of which run through Manningham, will involve compulsory land grabs.

The authority said it expected the State Government to announce the preferred corridor for the road before the end of the year and more detailed planning would then follow with homeowners and community groups to learn about land acquisitions.

Locals protesting against the North East Link at Banyule Flats, where test drilling has recently been carried out. Picture: Supplied

Say No To Option A campaigner Lorrae Willox said: “There are people who have lived in the area for 40 to 50 years who think their houses might be taken. The worry level is high.”

Warrandyte’s Kathleen Rode said Options B and C would result in suffering for Manningham residents and would have a disastrous effect on the area’s green wedge, and for the many animals that lived in the path of the proposed road.

Both Marcellin College and the Veneto Club were among numerous community facilities that face having land compulsorily acquired if Option A went ahead.

The Marcellin College community is worried about the potential impact of North East Link on their Bulleen campus.

Manningham Council will not announce its preferred route until it has surveyed households across the municipality but is opposed to Option A.

Manningham mayor Michelle Kleinert said the council’s survey would inform its submission to the authority regarding route options.

North East Link Authority chief executive Duncan Elliott said it was too premature to talk about more detailed planning information.

Manningham homeowners will soon receive a survey in the mail which must be returned by November 17.