Singleton Families Angered Over "Lowball" Bypass Offers

BY OLIVIA DILLON 

The families whose land is needed to begin work on the state government's Singleton bypass project have gone public with what they are calling "insulting" acquisition offers.

Offers have rolled-in from Transport for NSW and the NSW Valuer General for the past two years, but have consistently been lower than independent valuations. 

Three Labor reps met with the concerned families, stuck in a fight with the government over the lowball prices, yesterday afternoon. 

Labor Candidate for Upper Hunter, Peree Watson, the state member for Maitland Jenny Aitchison, and the federal member for Hunter, Dan Repacholi, heard the families' concerns at the Glenridding farm of Matt and Bec Hatch. 

They said the price they had been offered by Transport for NSW for their 4.5 hectare farm, was more than $500,000 less than the one produced by an independent valuer. 

Peree Watson, said unfortunately, this is a common practice. 

"We had an Upper house enquiry last year that was acknowledged by all sides of politics, which found certainly that it is consistent that lowball offers are made and then dragged-out over a period of time. In fact, it's bullying what's happening to landowners such as those in Singleton and just hearing their stories is tragic; you can see the effect it's had on them," Ms Watson said. 

Ms Watson also said moving forward, something needs to be done. 

"We do have a current government in -the election isn't march- so the current government can change this and fix this for those landowners," she said. 

"I call on the government to do something for these families. This is another Christmas where they've got to go through this traumatic situation. They just want to get on with their life and want a fair outcome for themselves, and they're happy for the bypass to progress as quickly as possible. It's in the hands of the government currently to make that all work for them." 

"Going forward, NSW Labor has committed to make the landowners acquisition system fairer. We know we will have to change laws to do that, but we don't want to see anyone go through what these families have."

Image: Transport for NSW

Hunter Misses Out In Federal Budget

BY IAN CROUCH

Hunter infrastructure projects which have been on the drawing board for years have missed out in the Federal Budget.

There was no specific funding commitments to the Glendale Transport Interchange, the M1 Link to Raymond Terrace or the Scone and Muswellbrook bypasses, although the region is likely to gain a share of the $3.5 billion Roads of Strategic Importance program over 10 years

However Defence spending in the region is getting more attention.

Another $1.8 billion dollars is going towards the new Joint Strike Fighter project at Williamtown, while new Air Combat Facilities at the base will receive $94 million on top of the $798 million already spent.

Money has also been allocated to air traffic control and aviation refueling infrastructure.

As we reported yesterday, Williamtown residents affected by the PFAS contamination crisis will benefit from a $55.2 million program to provide drinking water to communities living around the defence bases at Williamtown, Oakey, Tindal and Pearce.

Treasurer Scott Morrison delivers the 2018 Federal Budget