Land under homes acquired for tunnelling on WestConnex

RESIDENTS living in the path of the M5 WestConnex tunnel have had their homes literally snapped up from underneath their feet without compensation for the compulsory acquisition.

WestConnex tunnel entrance at the St Peters interchange.

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RESIDENTS living in the path of the M5 WestConnex tunnel have had their homes literally snapped up from underneath their feet.

Almost 150 residents in St Peters and Sydenham have received letters from the State Government since January 1 this year, informing them the “sub-surface property” below their homes will be compulsorily acquired.

While the 436 other acquisitions in the inner west have seen homeowners displaced, buildings demolished and residents receiving compensation, the latest round of resumptions will not involve a single bulldozer or a chequebook.

Roads and Maritime Services said the acquisitions only apply to sub-surface land where the twin M5 tunnels pass directly below homes. And clauses in the Land Acquisition Act mean affected homeowners are not entitled to compensation.

An aerial view of the M4 WestConnex at Homebush. Pic: Nearmap.com.au

St Peters resident Hector Battaro said the acquisition notice that dropped in his letterbox in January had “come as a shock”.

“We got the letter almost a year after they started and we were told if they found any problems they could acquire the rest of the property too,” Mr Battaro said.

“We didn’t realise how close the tunnel was coming underneath the house. I don’t think people understand that you don’t own the land beneath you — just a few centimetres under the surface.

“At night we can hear murmurs, trembling. You know something’s happening down there.”

WestConnex map identifying the street under which the motorway is going in Sydenham

Tunnelling on the 9km twin tunnels from St Peters to Beverly Hills began in December, with work running 24 hours a day.

Royal Prince Alfred Hospital clinical director Paul Torzillo warned of the ­impacts of pollution, noise and vibrations as construction on the tunnel pushes ahead.

“People are being kept awake and that has a whole lot of practical and psychological impacts on residents,” Mr Torzillo said.

“There is stress, anxiety, but also the consequences of people not being certain about what’s happening to their neighbourhood.”

The sub surface acquisitions include 39 businesses on the Princes Highway at St Peters and green space owned by Inner West Council.

Kingsgrove. Picture: Nearmap

Letters posted to landholders state the acquisitions for the rights and interests of the subsurface was for construction and maintenance work associated with the tunnel.

The notices come as the final cost of homes acquired for all stages of WestConnex heads towards $1 billion.

Figures from Roads and Maritime Services show 84 per cent of acquisitions have been completed at a cost of $841 million.

Approximately 80 properties have yet to be acquired.

An RMS spokeswoman said “all property acquisitions are carried out ... by agreement wherever possible.”

New laws introduced in March mean landowners no longer have to pay rent after their home is acquired, and there are now six-month negotiating periods.

The government has also adopted the majority of recommendations in the Russell Review to “ensure landowners and residents are treated fairly”.

Originally published as Land under homes acquired for tunnelling on WestConnex