SOME distraught Hume landowners last week left two State Government-organised information meetings in Bulla and Craigieburn in tears, devastated by the news they would lose their homes.
The meetings were run by the Growth Areas Authority and VicRoads to inform people on the Urban Growth Boundary and the Outer Metropolitan Ring Road proposals.
About 300 people attended each meeting. Some landowners in Kalkallo and Mickleham learned that their land, which falls in the planned Outer Metropolitan Ring Road route, would be compulsorily acquired.
Kalkallo residents Anne and Ken Greenwood are among the landowners on Gunns Gully Road who stand to lose their businesses and homes if the ring road goes ahead.
Ms Greenwood said that over the past 23 years, the family had poured its superannuation and savings into building an equestrian business on the property that would be part of a State Government compulsory acquisition.
They understand they would lose about two-thirds of their 65-hectare property, leaving them with five separate pockets to try and sell.
"Our place is to be divided up into separate parcels of land which will make it impossible to sell," Ms Greenwood said. "That's 20 years of hard work and the Government is just going to come and take the lot."
Members from newly formed lobby group Taxed Out were at the meetings, handing out pamphlets and petitions on the controversial Growth Areas Infrastructure Contribution.
Group member and Greenvale resident Gerard Gowan, who was at the Bulla meeting, said there was "nothing much credible" from the GAA.
Taxed Out secretary Jeanette Laffan said people "came out in tears" after the Craigieburn meeting. "We had a lot of people come through and sign our petition, but it was sad to see so many coming out crying."
Kalkallo resident and CFA captain Ned Panuzzo is among the Hume residents whose land will be acquired by the Government for the Outer Ring Road. He will lose about 10 hectares of his 72-hectare property. "You didn't get anything out of the meetings-they couldn't answer any questions or concerns that we had."
Mickleham resident Rosetta Barilla stands to lose half of her 15-hectare property, including the frontage on to Gunns Gully Road.
Ms Barilla said if the road went ahead, she would have to relocate. She had planned to run a nursery and animal farm from her property.
"The land they would take has got the nursery, that's the part that is going to be cut out and that was supposed to pay for the rest of the business.
"With the small children, it's too dangerous near the road. I would have to relocate and I don't know if they would pay me enough to relocate."
GAA spokesman Howard Kelly said he understood that some people saw value in the meetings and others didn't. But he said his job was to provide people with "accurate information."
Government spokesman Chris Owner said consultations would continue.
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