Michael and Rita Nicolaou have moved out of their Box Hill property, which was acquired by the Minns government to build two new schools, just days before the sheriff was due to arrive.
The couple, who received up to $27 million for one of their blocks, say they still need to relocate equipment onto another parcel of land they own, which sits behind the 2.8ha site taken over by the Education Department.
As the remaining property is landlocked, the Nicolaous insist the government must provide access, power and water as previously promised.
“We’ve moved out,” they said in a statement. “Some equipment still needs to be moved onto the back block that the Education Department didn’t purchase. To do that, we are waiting on them to provide the promised access road, power and water.”
On Friday, Michael Nicolaou was seen moving goats from the site.
The Education Department says the couple was issued a notice to vacate 120 days ago and missed the government’s deadline, prompting the threat of sheriff intervention.
The Nicolaous blamed delays on recent wet weather, including the relocation of their greyhounds. They also gained the support of Liberal MP Robyn Preston, who wrote to Acting Education Minister Courtney Houssos seeking a month-long extension.
Source: The Daily Telegraph.
