LANDOWNERS in Point Cook’s green wedge say housing development is the only viable option.
Wyndham Council last year recommended the land be included in the city’s urban growth boundary, saying it had degraded through weed and pest infestation and had lost environmental value.
For landowner Frances Palmer and her partner Paul Catania, the extension of the boundary has sparked hopes of a sizeable financial return from selling part of their property. Ms Palmer said housing was the only appropriate use for the land.
“Without development this is 10 useless acres, totally unirrigated and it can’t run as a working farm. Nobody wants the property, you can’t even keep livestock like chooks because of the foxes. Our rates are increasing, our overheads are increasing … nothing’s changing except for higher bills,” she said.
Mr Catania said managing the property had become too expensive and tiresome.
“We moved here when I was 35, and now I’m over 60, and it’s been nothing but work since I got here.”
Committee for Wyndham executive director Nik Tsardakis said the land was suitable for low-density or rural residential housing and would allow for more open grassland and treed areas. “High-density housing pushes too many people up here too quickly, before there can be any major improvements to the freeway.
