TAKEOVER ‘DISGRACE’
OPPOSITION MPs have called on the State Government to dump a “disgraceful” compulsory acquisition plan that threatens one of Victoria’s oldest farms.
The 455ha Larcombe farm at Waurn Ponds, which the family has managed for 116 years, has been the subject of a longstanding bitter dispute over the planned compulsory acquisition of 61ha of the land for $155 million train maintenance and stabling yards.
State opposition planning spokesman Tim Smith addressed residents on Friday with Western Victoria MP Bev McArthur to join the condemnation of the plan, which would make the farm “unviable”, according to farmer Stan Larcombe.
“Residents in the area unanimously oppose this careless decision by Rail Projects Victoria and are greatly concerned about the noise and air pollution that the stabling facility will generate, not to mention the destruction of the Larcombe family’s agricultural enterprise,” Ms McArthur said.
“This arbitrary decision is emblematic of this government’s complete neglect for the interests of rural communities in favour bureaucratic control.”
Last month, the campaign received a week-long extended feedback period for further community consultation — an aspect the Opposition MPs felt had been neglected. Mr Smith said the planned compulsory acquisition was unfair, claiming there was “a far more appropriate location on an adjacent 260ha property”.
Boral Australia owns the adjacent property, which the of Geelong Advertiser revealed was offered as an alternative site to the plan, but in May 2017 was told that splitting the Waurn Ponds farm was the most appropriate option.
Regional Rail Revival director Mark Havryluk told the Addy that alternative sites had been considered and assessed “against a list of criteria to meet current and future operational requirements”.
“Sites that met the relevant criteria were assessed in greater detail to identify other potential constraints including the location of watercourses, residences, road and rail access, earthworks and cultural heritage,” Mr Havryluk said. “The other sites considered did not meet the relevant criteria.”
South Barwon Labor MP Darren Cheeseman said he felt for the Larcombe family.
“Land acquisition is a common element of building transport infrastructure — but I can completely understand this is a challenging time for the Larcombe family,” he said.
The chorus of condemnation also includes the City of Greater Geelong, which called on the State Government to “provide transparency” and that stakeholders would be able to see the pros and cons of various sites and how they perform against the selection criteria before a final decision.