Pensioners face compulsory acquisitions from three separate government organisations

An elderly Geelong couple is set to lose the house they built and the land they have lived on for decades as a result of roads and drainage required for new developments.

An elderly Charlemont couple has been left stunned after being informed the land they have lived on for decades is facing three separate compulsory acquisition processes.

Horst, 87, and Rena Pfeifer, 84, moved into their 15-acre Reserve Rd property about 60 years ago, living in an army tent with their two children and cattle as they slowly built their home.

It was a home the pensioners planned to live in for the forseeable future, until the City of Geelong – which was formed about 30 years after the Pfeifer’s bought their land – last year sent a letter to the couple informing them their land was a “high priority” for compulsory acquisition.

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With residential developments rapidly swallowing up spare land in the Armstrong Creek area, the city informed the Pfeifers sections of their property was needed for roads and drainage works to help cater for incoming residents.

The city letter also informed the pensioners “the future Bellarine Link and a secondary school are other public uses which have been identified for part of your land”, paving the way for two more compulsory acquisitions in the future.

A map sent with the letters neatly sliced up the Pfeifer’s property into the future drainage, roads and school.

“To be quite honest, the first day I heard about it I thought I was going to pass out, because I was just so upset. I couldn’t eat, I couldn’t sleep,” Mr Pfeifer said.

“I laid every single brick in this place, and they just walk in and say ‘see you later’.

“If anybody thinks that the Act of parliament that allows them to do that is fair, well it’s not. It’s not fair at all, it doesn’t give me a fair go, because it just says ‘if you don’t like it, lump it’.”

acquisitions

Horst and Rena Pfeifer are now stuck wading through the confusing compulsory acquisition process with the City of Greater Geelong, and are unsure how much they’ll be paid for their land, nor when they’ll be kicked to the curb.

“I don’t have a clue,” Mr Pfeifer said. “I want to know what the heck I’m doing, and I can’t get answers. It doesn’t matter what I do, I can’t get answers”

City of Greater Geelong Director of Planning and Development Gareth Smith this said the compulsory acquisition would allow the city to “keep pace” with the significant increase in development in the Armstrong Creek area.

“Some private land is required to enable the delivery of critical drainage infrastructure and the delivery of the Horseshoe Bend Road realignment,” Mr Smith said. “The realignment will enable a safer road network with the delivery of a new intersection between Horseshoe Bend Road, Reserve Road and Drews Road.”

Spokespersons for both the Department of Education and Major Roads Projects Victoria both confirmed formal compulsory acquisition processes had not yet been launched for further land at the Pfeifer’s property.

Both noted potential future acquisitions would be subject to budget processes and preliminary design works.

Originally published as Pensioners face compulsory acquisitions from three separate government organisations