A MARONG family who have been on their property for 90 years could be forced off their land by a City of Greater Bendigo project.
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The Carter family has been working the land in the area since World War I, but now face the prospect of having 300 hectares of farmland compulsorily acquired to make way for an industrial business park on the Calder Highway.
In February the council will begin a detailed site review to see if the land, located just north of Marong, is suitable for the proposed multi-million dollar Marong Business Park, which the City of Greater Bendigo says has long-term potential to provide employment for more than 5000 people.
Following the year-long analysis, the council will determine if the land is suitable for rezoning and development. The Carters’ land could then be acquired.
Eighty-eight-year-old Neville Carter was born and raised on the farm, which his father started after he returned from four years of fighting in France.
“You have to be able to have some say over your land,” he said.
“As far as I’m concerned we should keep it - we have worked our whole life to get it.”
Mr Carter also said there was plenty of land elsewhere and he could not understand why his family’s land was being targeted.
Greater Bendigo chief executive Craig Niemann said the project was about establishing job availability in the future, with large-scale manufacturing a key sector.
“We understand the sensitivity of this and we want to work with the local landowner.”
Mr Cooper’s son Max now owns the land, on which he grows substantial grain crops and runs many head of sheep.
“We will contest this for sure, we have had no say in this at all,” he said.
The family say they are also angry because of the deception and lies they believe they’ve been told.
“We got a letter a few months ago saying council had dropped its plans for compulsory acquisition,” Max Carter said.
He said landowners had met with the council and were told the whole issue was dead and buried.
“We will be fighting them all the way - we own the land freehold. We really don’t know what the council is up to.”
Mr Carter said he did not think building an industrial estate was a pressing need, especially given the good quality of the farmland.
“This is really fertile land and the sheep are always fat and healthy.”
Bendigo Mayor Rod Campbell said the city was rapidly running out of industrial land.
“Our research clearly indicates that during the past seven years alone, the take-up of serviced industrial land in our region has been more than 250 per cent above expectations,” he said.
Cr Campbell said the council was committed to working closely with the owner to ensure the best outcome for all involved.
Property owners surrounding the proposed site have also been notified of works that will involve a range of activities including soil tests, hydrology works and flora, fauna and cultural heritage assessments.
The project began in June 2002 when the council adopted the Bendigo Industrial Land Strategy, which identified the need for a large industrial zone away from residential areas.
