Melbourne Airport Link plans leave Bulla landowners in limbo

THE home to our greatest retired racehorses is among almost 40 properties in Melbourne’s northwest under threat as plans progress to build a new freeway.

N17ho421 Champion horses prepare for spring carnival at Living Legends, Woodlands Historic Park, Oaklands Rd L-R Bryce Coghlan , Dr Andrew Clarke walk Fields of Omagh and Better Loosen up past the homestead

HARNESS racing trainers Judy and Kerry O’Riley are among almost 40 landowners in Melbourne’s northwest who are in limbo as plans progress to build a freeway through their properties.

They purpose-built their home to include a racing track 40 years ago, but the proposed Melbourne Airport Link will tear through the track if the VicRoads proposal goes ahead.

It follows a Planning Panels Victoria report supporting reservation of land for a future Melbourne Airport Link and Bulla Bypass.

The six-lane road would be an extension of the Tullamarine Freeway and would link with the proposed Outer Metropolitan Ring Road and Bulla Bypass.

While construction could be decades away, it creates uncertainty for the O’Rileys, who would be forced to rebuild from scratch elsewhere.

HAVE YOUR SAY: Will the link and bypass affect you? Tell us below

It also threatens the entrance to Living Legends, the home to many of Melbourne’s retired racehorse greats.

“Even if it’s going to be 10 years down the track, this is going to be an ongoing thing for our family,” Ms O’Riley said.

With the property guarded by a land overlay, she said they wouldn’t be able to sell up if they decided to leave the site before it was compulsorily acquired.

“If our circumstances change — something happened or we needed to move or, heaven forbid, a death — then what do you do?” Ms O’Riley said.

“You’re in limbo. For us to replace what we’ve got — you don’t go out and buy a property like that tomorrow.

“It would take months, years, to find what we want.

“Where does that money come from?

“It’s just heartbreaking that we’re in this situation, as it is for the other people that it’s going to affect.”

The project would also see the southwestern corner of Woodlands Historic Park make way for the Melbourne Airport Link.

Living Legends’ chief executive Andrew Clarke, said the biggest issue for the venue, which is based in the park, was accessibility, with the freeway cutting across their entrance.

“To get to our place from the airport, you’re going to have to drive up through Bulla and do a circle back around,” Mr Clarke said.

He said the issue of displaced kangaroos and motorists might also need to be addressed.

Sunbury-based Hume councillor Jack Ogilvie welcomed money spent in the area and said huge amounts needed to go towards the road network to accommodate Sunbury’s growth.

He acknowledged landowners would be affected, but said progress needed to continue.

Hume Council chief executive Domenic Isola welcomed the report but said plans by VicRoads “might fragment properties to the point where they ultimately hinder the way owners can use their land”.

He also said the plans should minimise any impact on the environment.

Melbourne Airport spokeswoman Anna Gillett said they were happy to look at all options that boosted access to the aviation hub.

Roads Minister Luke Donnellan said the future connection would address growing transport needs in Melbourne’s northern and western suburbs.

He said it would also provide an alternative link to the airport for key freight centres at Beveridge, Donnybrook and Tarneit.