Yan Yean Rd homeowners fight for extra compo over road works
Homeowners off Yan Yean Rd in Diamond Creek and Yarrambat have been dealing with road works outside their homes for almost a year. But they say low-ball compensation for parts of their land required for the works are the final straw.
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Homeowners off Yan Yean Rd are fighting for more compensation after parts of their land were acquired by Major Roads Project Victoria to upgrade the busy thoroughfare.
At least three dissatisfied landholders told the Leader they had been in legal discussions with the authority for a year over the amount offered for portions of their properties and felt they’d been left in the dark over how it had been calculated.
But the MRPV said it had acted in accordance with the Acquisition and Compensation Act 1986.
Diamond Creek homeowner Neil Forbes said he was compensated $160,000 after the authority acquired half a hectare of his property, just off Yan Yean Rd.
“That amount of land around here is worth at least between $900,000 to $1 million — I thought I would at least get $450,000-$500,000,” he said.
Mr Forbes said he had spent $15,000 on solicitors while trying to get more money, but had reached a stage where he could “no longer fight”.
“We just can’t afford to throw any more money at them — I think we just have to lick our wounds,” he said.
“The whole process has driven us nearly insane.
“Our privacy is gone, we had about 60 trees which were all 20 years old, but they’re all gone.
“Our home of 20 years has been changed forever and we haven’t even been given the right amount of compensation or at least been given an explanation about how the figure was established.”
Graeme McLennan who was compensated $350,000 for 0.3 hectares told the Leader an independent valuer estimated that parcel of land at $400,000 instead.
He also said works outside his Yarrambat home were unfinished, and questioned how MRPV could predetermine the impact to his home.
“They’ve taken the land but the works are still unfinished, so how do I know what I am being compensated for if I don’t know how the works will change my home and life,” he said.
Plenty’s Ian Dunn also had similar concerns.
“They’ve (MRPV) given us $31,200 for 700sq m, but how have they come to that amount,” he said.
“We are entitled to find that out — but the only way is to litigate and we just don’t understand why the whole process is shrouded in secrecy.”
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MRPV spokeswoman Leonie Keen said land acquisitions had been undertaken in accordance to the Land Acquisition and Compensation Act 1986 and involved certified valuation assessments from the Valuer General Victoria.
In circumstances where an agreement could not be met, a dispute resolution procedure was available.
“This vital upgrade has transformed Yan Yean Rd by making it less congested and safer for motorists,” Ms Keen said.
“Major Road Projects Victoria works closely with local landowners throughout the delivery of our projects to keep them informed and minimise impacts where possible.”
MRPV could not comment on individual acquisitions.