Idle estate owners grassed off

By Noel Murphy
OWNERS of hundreds of blocks in an estate where developers ripped off residents decades ago fear another bad deal, this time at the hands of City Hall.
New Corio estate, on the east and west sides of Corio’s Shell Pde and next door to Geelong Grammar, has been left undeveloped since it was declared impossible to sewer 30 years ago.
But owners unable to sell or build on the land have now been told their blocks are important grassland needing protection despite claiming the site could be sewered.
The matter has gone before an independent panel, reporting to council next month.
A meeting of landowners last week, many of them the children of migrants conned into buying the land in the 1970s, could set in train a new bid to develop the blocks for housing.
But landowner and action group spearhead Paul Secen said the group faced an uphill battle.
City Hall even refused to reveal the identities of other landowners, on privacy grounds, until Mayor John Mitchell intervened.
Mr Secen said he was unable to understand the reason for the proposed grassland conservation planning overlay.
“I think, and this is only my private view, that the council is too lazy to work with owners,’’ he said.
“There’s supposed to be an inappropriate fall in the land for sewerage but it’s not hard to put drains in. They could easily drain it out, there’s plenty of fall.’’
City Hall has bought more than 50 per cent of the 600 blocks for a fraction of what they might normally be worth.
Mr Secen said many owners were paid $1000 or less but council was now offering up to $2800.
Cr Mitchell said he empathised with New Corio landowners and had tried to help.
“Council is trying to do the right thing and buy them back,” he said.
“People think there’s a conspiracy behind it but there’s no conspiracy.
“It happened well before our time. I can understand landowners fighting for what they think is right and I support them but … it’s just the way it is.
“I don’t want to sound flippant, I do honestly empathise with them.’’
The changes for the estate were enacted in line with Victoria’s Planning Act but, according to papers sent to landowners, “at the request of the City’’.
Mr Secen said the owners faced a mismatch at hearings.
“We had just two people, the hearings were held during working days,’’ he said.
“Unlike the City, we don’t get paid to go there.
“We put our best possible case: that it’s a waste of natural resources, why couldn’t they look anywhere else for native grasses, what about the landfill next door?
“They’ve picked on this to get rid of the remaining landowners.’’