Landowners in path of Melbourne Airport rail link hit with acquisition intention notices

Landowners sent notices of intention to acquire their properties for the airport rail link have been urged to seek legal advice soon.

There are signs work on a train line to and from Melbourne Airport may start in the not-too-distant future. Picture: Ian Currie

Landowners affected by the construction of the Melbourne Airport Rail Link have started receiving notices about acquiring their properties.

More than 80 properties are expected to be taken over or demolished and the release of the notices is a sign work is progressing on the long-awaited project.

The largest number of acquisitions are believed to be in Snyder Court, Tullamarine and most fall along the 12km of new track to be built between Sunshine and the airport.

A new station at Keilor East will also have a larger construction footprint than other parts of the project.

Owners who recently received a notice of intention to acquire have been urged to seek legal advice immediately.

Adrian McMillan, planning and local government law specialist at Slater & Gordon, said the notices meant the acquisition process had officially started.

An artist’s impression of the Melbourne Airport rail link.

“They need expert advice to be informed of their rights and their entitlements to compensation,” he said.

“As well meaning as the authority is, they’re the ones that are taking their land and people need to be independent.

“We see a lot of people who come to us late in the process.”

Slater and Gordon and have previously represented owners affected by other projects such as the West Gate Tunnel and North East Link.

Mr McMillan said there was now about eight to 10 weeks before the next stage of the process.

“That time certainly slips away,” he said.

“Even things like recommending an expert valuer are important so you can appraise your land properly.

“People often have an idea of what their property is worth but its often more complicated than they think.”

Passengers at Melbourne Airport could soon have a new way to travel to and from the city. Picture: Nicki Connolly

Mr McMillan said people with leases on properties affected by the project needed to move particularly quickly, with compensation entitlements even more complex.

It comes as the government is still at odds with the airport over where its station will be, with authorities at Tullamarine refusing to accept the government’s above ground proposal.

The state and federal governments released the project’s business case this month which included designs for an elevated station as their preferred option.

But Melbourne Airport hit back, stating they still preferred a below ground option and did not consider the issue to be settled.