Land acquisition reprieve
Report on alternative sites to be released
A FIGHT against the planned compulsory acquisition of a large slice of one of Victoria’s oldest farms has taken another step forward, with a report on alternative site options to be publicly released.
A public hearing into the planned acquisition will also be adjourned, giving those fighting it a four-month reprieve.
The State Government has earmarked a 61ha chunk of a historic 455ha Waurn Ponds farm for compulsory acquisition to make way for a $115 million train maintenance and stabling facility.
But the Larcombe family, who have operated the farm for 116 years, are in the midst of a desperate bid to convince the Government to consider an alternative site — warning the historic merino sheep farm could be rendered unviable by the “ruthless” land grab.
Earlier this month the Geelong Advertiser revealed Boral Australia had offered part of its Waurn Ponds Cement Works land to the State Government to house the planned facility — but the Government instead pushed ahead with the acquisition of the Larcombes’ site.
The Government also virtually doubled the amount of land it had initially planned to take, telling the family it required 61ha for the project, rather than the 35ha initially earmarked.
At a directions hearing yesterday the Government Land Standing Advisory Committee (GLSAC), chair Lester Townsend signalled the release of a site selection report, and agreed to adjourn the public hearing into the planned acquisition until February — allowing the Larcombes complete shearing season.
Both matters were agreed to by representatives of Rail Projects Victoria.
The GLSAC is charged with completing the planning process of the Waurn Ponds Train Maintenance and Stabling Facility Project on the Larcombes’ land.
The decisions come as a win for the Larcombe family and their supporters, and the City of Greater Geelong’s request for the public release of a report on alternative site options for the rail facility. to
A request by the Larcombe family and council for the Government to alter the GLSAC terms of reference to review all available site options has not been successful.
Regional Rail Revival director Mark Havryluk this month said the Larcombes’ farm was identified as “the most suitable site”.
The Reservoir Rd farm was founded in 1855 by James Henty, one of Victoria’s first settlers, and five generations of the Larcombe family have bred merino sheep there for the past 116 years.