By Jamie Salter
As works on the Pakenham East Train Station progress, the Porobic family says their battle for appropriate compensation is just getting started.
It has been one year since Michelle and Bob were informed their house would be acquired for the train line extension and in that time, the pair have struggled to find a suitable replacement for their home.
The couple built the Pakenham house four years ago to suit their preferences, including a $300,000 second dwelling in the property’s backyard.
Having originally spent $340,000 for the block, the Porobic’s said they were not being offered enough money from the Level Crossing Removal Project to match the rise in housing costs in Pakenham.
“We’ve looked at ones we can’t afford, we’ve looked at one’s where there’s no way we’ll be buying it,“ Michelle said.
“We’re not being offered enough money for what we’ve got here.
“I’m not going to compromise and buy a house that needs to be renovated and I want to stand out there with a bomb strapped to me because no one is listening.“
At nearly 60 years old, Bob feels just as strongly about the acquisition as his dreams of retiring in his Pakenham home have been demolished.
“Why should I have to move from where I’ve wanted to live for the rest of my life for them?“ he said.
“I don’t care who Dan Andrews is and when the day comes that they tell me to move, we’re not going to be gone.
“I’m happy to go tomorrow but I’m going to buy something that suits me and they’re not giving me enough money.“
Work is set to begin on the property on Tuesday 12 April and the Porobic are now required to pay $3,000 rent per month.
Eastern Victorian MP Cathrine Burnett-Wake said Pakenham residents have been unfairly treated.
“It’s a disgrace and the human element has just not been taken into consideration,“ she said.
“Moving forth, the Andrews Labor Government needs to treat people with respect, when they’re causing such upheaval in their lives they need to take personal situations into account.
“This won’t be the last time they have to acquire property and when they do that, they need to have proper consultation.“
Ms Burnett-Wake said she was disappointed that the Pakenham East station was designed to service an estate located 3km away from the new site.
“It doesn’t make sense for a train station to be here when it’s meant to be servicing an estate that’s three kilometres away and it will ruin why people want to live here.“
The new station will be located between Deep Creek and the Princes Freeway and further detailed design work is currently in progress.
The exact number of car parking spaces will also be confirmed.
Pakenham Level Crossing Removal Project (LXRP) program director Matt Thorpe said extending the rail line to Pakenham East will pave the way for more Pakenham and Gippsland train services to be added in the future.
“The new East Pakenham Station ensures the right infrastructure and train services are in place as this community grows,“ Mr Thorpe said.
“We’re excited to be out on the ground in Pakenham, setting up our site sheds and beginning early works to get on with removing the level crossings and building the stations.”
LXRP said all matters relating to compulsory acquisition were confidential between the Victorian Government and property owners.
