Goodna Bypass – Government Answer to my Question
Thursday, 16 October 2008 15:53
State Main Roads Minister Pitt has provided an answer to a question I asked on behalf of local residents in relation to the Goodna Bypass.
It seems extraordinary that the Government could change its attitude so dramatically now that there is no political gain for them in criticising the Federal Government’s approach.
The State Government described the Goodna Bypass as “crazy and illogical”, “ill-fated” and “ridiculous and discredited” and the State Government also promised local residents that the one way of ensuring this road was not built was to elect Kevin Rudd.
Well now it is a completely different story.
To read the Minister’s reply click here
This also seems to contradict previous advice that the Government would resume the properties affected.
The problem with the approach detailed here by the Minister is that it leaves many residents in complete limbo.
Once a property has been identified as being required for a State government road corridor it is nearly impossible to assign a value to that property and residents will find that it is all but unsaleable.
Hardship provision will not necessarily apply to all residents.
Most residents living on their home-sites would also like to think that over time the value of their homes will increase.
The other significant effect is that the creation of a road corridor will have a significant impact on surrounding properties that are not ear-marked for resumption.
These property owners will not be compensated but will find there is an effect on the value of their property and its saleability.
I have no doubt local residents will agree with me that they have been seriously misled. I find it bitterly disappointing that when it suited the Government’s political agenda to be anti-Goodna Bypass in order to belt the Howard Government they did so but now residents find that they have been hoodwinked.