Grandma’s trauma as home to be bulldozed for rail loop facility

A grandmother whose Heatherton home is the only house in line to be bulldozed for a new train stabling yard says moving would “kill” her.

A grandmother who lives in the only home set to be bulldozed for a new train stabling yard in Melbourne’s southeast says being forced to move would be devastating.

Lynette Johns has been in her Kingston Rd property in Heatherton for 26 years, and now lives with her grandson.

The Andrews government wants to acquire the property to build a 24/7 storage and maintenance facility as part of the $34.5bn Suburban Rail Loop East.

That mega project would connect Cheltenham to Box Hill via a 26km underground station, with six new underground stations.

Lynette Johns has been in her Kingston Rd property in Heatherton for 26 years. Picture: Nicki Connolly

Mrs Johns told the Herald Sun that having to move would be a nightmare and “would kill me”.

“I don’t think I could do it,” she said.

“I don’t want to go, I have always said ‘carry me out of here in a box’,” she said.

Mrs Johns said the plan to build a 24/7 facility would also be damaging to wildlife, with echidnas and other native fauna frequently visiting the area.

“It’s just not right, it must be the last little area this side of Melbourne that has native animals and native bush like this,” she said.

Mrs Johns said she was sent a letter by the Suburban Rail Loop Authority about a potential acquisition last year, but had heard nothing since.

“I think they have forgotten I’m there,” she said.

Ms Johns doesn't want to leave her home and says moving would kill her. Picture: Nicki Connolly

Chief executive of the Suburban Rail Loop Authority Frankie Carroll said of several sites considered for the train yard “the Heatherton stabling site involved less property acquisition than any other option”.

“With construction about to start on this city-shaping project, we’re doing all we can to minimise and manage potential impacts to the community and keep them updated as planning progresses,” he said.

An Environment Effect Statement assessment of the mega-project is ongoing, and is expected to wrap up mid-year.

Formal notices of acquisition can’t be sent to residents until that process finishes, and the government says those affected will have case managers to “support them through the process”.