Beverly Hills couple Warren and Rachel Zhang are facing an uncertain future with their home earmarked for compulsory acquisition under the draft Beverly Hills Master Plan.
Mrs Zhang said they found out last year that their house at 18 Norfolk Avenue was earmarked for compulsory acquisition after reading a booklet about the Plan given to them by a neighbour.
She said there has been inadequate community consultation, particularly with residents of non-English speaking backgrounds.
Mr and Mrs Zhang are supporting a petition calling for the Master Plan to be delayed until all Covid-19 restrictions have been lifted so that the community has had an opportunity to have face-to-face consultation.
"We were about to build a granny flat in our backyard last year when a local real estate agent told us don't do this as our home will be acquired," she said.
"Another neighbour was also told by the agent that their property would be acquired. The agent gave him a booklet with details of the Master Plan. That's when we saw our house was marked to be acquired.
"Last year the council had a webinar on the Master Plan but most of the people here are of non-English speaking background and some don't have the internet."
Mrs Zhang wrote to Georges River mayor Kevin Greene objecting to the process and calling for more face-to-face community consultation.
Councillor Greene replied that there had been extensive community consultation with the draft Master Plan on public exhibition from 28 July 2020 to 28 September 2020 for a total of 60 days: plans, maps and fact sheets published on Council's Your Say page and available for viewing at Council's customer service centres and libraries; a survey; two community information webinars with a total attendance of 101 people; advertising; social media; a letter box drop to 4450 properties; and online consultation with a number of property owner groups.
Mr Zhang said, "We didn't get a letter saying they wanted to acquire our properties. We knew about the Master Plan but didn't know that our property was affected.
"When I found out I attended the webinar meeting but many residents did not. They are elderly people without English and don't have the internet to check the Master Plan," he said.
"A lot of people are against this Plan. We have been here for 16 years. We have brought up our family here. Our kids go to the local schools.
"We don't want to sell our property. We just want to live here."
Mr and Mrs Zhang are urging people to sign the petition at https://www.teamgrrrp.com.au/news/grc-stop-pushing-through-major-rezoning-during-covid19