Labor to establish panel to review Punt Rd land acquisition overlays if elected

LAND acquisition overlays that have applied to 140 Punt Rd properties for the past 50 years will be reviewed by an independent panel if Labor wins the state election.

Labor announcement on Punt Rd

LAND acquisition overlays that have applied to 140 Punt Rd properties for the past 50 years will be reviewed by an independent panel if Labor wins the state election.

Opposition Planning Spokesman Brian Tee said his party would establish a panel that would look at the existing easement, with road authority VicRoads to have no say in the process.

Residents said previous governments had repeatedly promised the easement would be reviewed but no progress had been made.

Mr Tee said the overlay was hanging over property owners’ heads, which meant people “could not get on with their lives”.

“There is a disincentive to do any work on these properties and it (the overlay) makes it harder to sell,” Mr Tee said.

“We know VicRoads have had a look at this, and they are keen to hang onto it, and that’s just the nature of VicRoads. Like most bureaucracies who just want to hold onto things just in case.”

He said there would be a small number of people appointed to the independent panel, who would look at the easement, consult the community and then provide a report to the Planning Minister for recommendation.

“..If it’s still an option, let’s keep it (the easement) there,” he said.

Mr Tee said the panel would be established next year if the ALP wins government.

Resident Anthony van der Craats said he would like to see a north-south tunnel built to reduce traffic congestion on Punt Rd. but Opposition Roads spokesman Luke Donnellan said “there was no commitment to a north-south tunnel, full stop”.

Punt Rd property owner Susie Warwick said news of the independent panel was welcomed.

“We are caretakers of properties for VicRoads. We have a roof that’s of huge heritage significance to that area that will cost $250,000 to fix that might be bulldozed.

“We have a wrecking ball hanging over our heads.”

Roads Minister Terry Mulder’s spokeswoman Jess Maguire said the independent panel was another backflip by the ALP.

“Their roads spokesman Luke Donnellan previously told The Age that the overlay should be kept in place,” Ms Maguire said.

“The Coalition has announced it will fix the congestion on Punt Rd via a 24-hour clearway and transfer of on-street parking to off-street areas.”

She said a fifth-lane option was being investigated for Punt Rd without requiring any widening of the road.

Ms Maguire said the government was not pursuing any plan to compulsorily acquire and bulldoze houses on Punt Rd.