By Marcus Uhe
If Ray Dalli lived two doors down from his current property on Sugarloaf Avenue in Lynbrook, he wouldn’t find himself in the 500-metre landfill buffer zone regarding the proposed Hampton Park Hill Draft Development Plan.
Unfortunately, he and his family own one of the 1350 properties set to be impacted by the proposal.
Mr Dalli has lived there for 20 years and until July, he was under the impression that the council would turn the site into public open spaces and parkland, and residential properties.
The proposal will mean there will be extra hurdles to clear if he wants to conduct any extensions or renovations to his property, due to the risk of gas migrating through the ground, and should he choose to sell, he expects value of the property to substantially fall.
He and his neighbours will also be subject to vehicles and trucks passing through the area between 12am and 6pm on weekdays, and 12am to 4pm on Saturdays, should the plan be approved.
On top of years of Covid-19 frustrations and difficulties, he said this is not what the community needs.
“To say that I’m guttered is an understatement,” Mr Dalli said.
“This has enormous ramifications for my neighbours and their families, for the new families that have just purchased and moved into the area, for my non-English speaking neighbours that work extremely hard to support their family and mortgage, and for my own family.
“The mental anguish that this is causing is enormous. I have spoken to some of the new families and they are on edge; three years of pandemic restrictions, high housing prices and rising interest rates and cost of living, and now to contend with this proposal, is very depressing to witness.
“This is a major failure of all levels of government.”
Mr Dalli has also criticised the timing and communication of the proposal, claiming that the three weeks given to residents to submit an objection was insufficient.
“Council knew we would be opposing this. To only give us three weeks is deplorable.”
Manager planning and building at the City of Casey Duncan Turner said the council extended the due date – from three weeks to six – for submissions due to the “significant interest” from the community, however the period has now closed, as of Tuesday 30 August.
“Council officers are reviewing all submissions received during the consultation period and may recommend changes to the draft development plan in response to submissions. Officers will take a report to council in the future to consider the submissions and adopt a development plan.”
Liberal candidate for the seat of Narre Warren South in November’s State Election, Annette Samuel recently undertook doorknocking in the area to speak to residents about their concerns.
“The Development Plan will ensure residents’ house values, quality of life and health will be negatively affected as a result of future activities on the site,” Ms Samuel said.
“I have been working closely with Gembrook MP Brad Battin on this issue and together we are fighting on behalf of the community for the State Government to intervene.“
Narre Warren South MP Gary Maas declined to comment when contacted by Star News.
When asked if he would consider uprooting and moving away from Lynbrook, Mr Dalli said the impact of the plan on property values and the home he has created would make moving difficult, both financially and mentally.
“I have established gardens with fruit trees and a vegetable garden as many other residents do in the area,” he said.
“I love this area, it’s a great community but this is going to impact the area not just ours but the surrounding suburbs as well.”
Instead, he is considering a class-action lawsuit.
“The (City of Casey) administrators, who aren’t democratically elected, and were installed by the State Government need to understand the residents’ concerns, and consider those concerns very carefully before irreversible decisions are made.
“Their tenure expires in 2024 and we could be left with an unacceptable plan.
“At the end of the day, residents pay the price for this. It’s not fair.”
