'I feel sick. I feel angry. I don't want to lose my house' - Hariklia VorgiatzidisMIDDLE Footscray residents aggrieved at the prospect of losing homes to a rail link are banding together to fight for a fair go.
Buckley Street resident Nick Fahey said there were fears residents would be left out because of the "piecemeal" way the state government was going about the process of planning the rail line.
He said the whole affair, from finding out through the media their homes would go to frustration at the lack of information, was a shambles. He said residents were meeting tonight to form a united front to ensure all residents were dealt with fairly.
Twenty-six homes and more commercial properties will be demolished for the $4.3billion Regional Rail Link.
But uncertainty surrounds other properties, including the under-construction Salvation Army elderly hostel on the old Footscray pool site, a senior citizens centre, and other homes that were not earmarked for acquisition. One of the residents, Milos Pelikan, said he faced a "living hell" next to a high-speed rail line.
In a government U-turn, Transport Minister Martin Pakula yesterday said the houses had "slipped through the cracks" and the matter would be sorted out.
"[They] probably should have been included in the compulsory acquisition zone at the outset," he said.
"They're now going to be in the same process as all of the other affected residents."
Salvation Army spokesman Major Brad Halse said the Salvos met transport planners yesterday, but the fate of the hostel would not be known until the precise alignment was finalised.
Hariklia Vorgiatzidis and her husband Nick have lived in their Buckley Street home for 42 years.
Last week, she was still reeling from the shock of hearing their home was one of 26 on the street marked for demolition to make way for the rail link.
"I feel sick. I feel angry. I don't want to lose my house; I don't want to go anywhere."
Mrs Vorgiatzidis, 72, said she had been in Australia for 46 years after migrating from Greece. The last thing she expected was letters and a visit from the Department of Transport.
First there was confusion, then disbelief, followed by anger. Many of the residents found out their homes were being demolished through media who descended enmasse on Buckley Street.
It took its toll. At least one resident, likely fed up with the mix of intrusion in his private life and confusion over his future, flatly declined an approach by The Mail. "No. Not interested," was all he offered.
Last week, Roads Minister Mr Pallas and Mr Pakula told local media at a briefing on the rail link, a tunnel under Footscray and the truck action plan it could not be helped if journalists had ways and means of ferreting out and using sensitive information. According to one version of events, department officials did not want to be filmed while going about the sensitive task of breaking the news to residents.
Two days later, Premier John Brumby said sorry to the 26 home owners who had been through the mill. Home owners were also mailed explanations from Mr Pakula.
On Sunday, more than 70 residents met Greens MLC Colleen Hartland to vent their frustrations.
Footscray MP Marsha Thomson acknowledged losing a home was a sensitive matter and said she would work with anyone who needed help.
Slater and Gordon practice group leader and planning law specialist Roger Batrouney said compulsory acquisition was a complex process. He said residents with letters telling them their property might be acquired should not rush into signing anything before seeking advice from property valuers, lawyers and accountants. Those costs could be added to their compensation claim and paid for by the government.
TELL US WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THIS ISSUE. SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS STORY AND POST A COMMENT.
Email a friend