High Wycombe family faces bleak Christmas with government home quit notice
Transport Minister Dean Nalder has been branded "un-Australian" by the Shire of Kalamunda after ordering a High Wycombe family to quit their family home before   January 31.
And the shire president, Andrew Waddell, has further slammed the minister for not providing an explanation as to why so many car parks are needed for the Airport-Forrestfield rail link. 
WAtoday reported on Monday how Chris and Tina Sheehan and their two children face the prospect of having to fund the purchase and removal to a new property without any upfront cash from the forced purchase of their Sultana Road West property.
The High Wycombe home is now slated as a carpark for the link and Mr Waddell said it was premature to take people's land for the Airport-Forrestfield rail link.
"Taking someone's home without first sorting out the compensation is, quite frankly, un-Australian," he said.
Mr Waddell questioned notices being given to people whose land is required for the infrastructure project.
"We question why such orders would be issued when the government has no sound explanation as to why so many car parks are required?" he said.
"Council has previously made its position on this matter very clear - and the shire is currently undertaking a parking study to understand requirements for the Forresfield train station and any overflow parking areas."
The shire president said it would make more sense to wait for until the end of the tender process, as this could impact the size and location of associated infrastructure like car parks.
He also said the shire had offered support to any landowners who were affected by "taking orders".
"The Shire of Kalamunda personally handed a letter to Mr Nalder, regarding subdivisions that could be pursued to help landowners find comparable land in the event that their current home and business locations were required for the station," Mr Waddell said.
"Despite assurances that the minister would look favourably for solutions for landowners, I do not believe we have ever heard anything further on the matter.
"I urge the premier to intervene and help find a way forward for their families and these small businesses."
Mr Nalder said the Airport-Forrestfield link was a complex project which involved twin bored tunnels of about eight kilometres in length passing under the Swan River and on to Forrestfield.
"It is a well-established practise that the land is needed well before the selection of the main contractor to ensure they can mobilise on-site as quickly as possible," he said.
The minister said he advised the Shire of Kalamunda this week, via letter, that he had considered the council's land swap suggestion involving land parcels located within an industrial development zone.
"The land in question has been assessed, but is not considered suitable for the required purpose.
As of Friday morning, the shire had not received that letter.
During a heated question time in state parliament earlier this week on the issue of "taking orders", Mr Nalder said the government had to get on with the project.
"There comes a point in time when we need to move forward, and the processes for moving forward have been laid out for them [the Sheehans]," he said in response to opposition spokeswoman Rita Saffioti.
"Those people are not being removed for Christmas. The date that was put down was   January 31."
Mr Nalder said there could be some flexibility around that date if they negotiated with the Public Transport Authority.
"At this point it comes down to price. If claims are made that are seven times above what the government has offered - and the government has offered 43 per cent above what they paid for it [the land] two years earlier - it is a bit ridiculous," he said.
The minister said the government would endeavour to remain flexible about relocation, but it was getting on with delivering the Forrestfield-Airport Link.
"That what we promised at the last election," he said.
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