Ted’s neighbours sold their blocks for millions. His is worthless
When Ted Pochodyla moved to Kemps Creek in Sydney's west 40 years ago, there wasn't much to the place.
He bought his block for $210,000 and built his home by hand.
Ted has been fighting a zoning change for more than five years. A Current Affair
“I'm on my last leg now, I've been fighting this cause for over five years, no justice whatsoever,” he said.
When building started in 2018 on the recently opened Western Sydney International Airport, just 15 kilometres from Pochodyla’s place, a zoning change swept through.
The whole area was rezoned as industrial, except for Pochodyla's place, which had extra restrictions placed on it.
“93 per cent is conservation,” he said.
“I'm not allowed to do anything, not allowed to clear, not allowed to touch it.”
This means Pochodyla's block is now all but worthless.
His neighbours, though, have scored massive pay days.
The block to the north sold for $11 million and the one to the south for $18 million.
The site opposite Pochodyla's block fetched a whopping $95 million.
A Current Affair visited two years ago as big developers started to buy up.
“I was hoping to get old, be able to live a good life, and leave the kids and grandkids some inheritance,” he said at the time
Ted says his property has been held “hostage by N.S.W. gov madness”. A Current Affair
“But now what can I leave them? A heap of misery.”
Now it's worse, the bulldozers have started and Pochodyla's still here.
His block is soon to be surrounded by big industry including a $4 billion data centre out the front, a $9 billion one out the back, and warehouses on either side.
“The government decided for me,” he said.
“I said I shouldn't be here, all I want is a fair offer, whichever way, either change the zoning or change the situation of the acquisition, because it's definitely very unfair at the moment.
“It makes me feel terrible because no one cares.”
Pochodyla was offered a deal but it was based on the fact his land was for conservation and couldn't be built on. A pittance compared to the others.
The bulldozers have started and Ted is still here. A Current Affair
“Why would you preserve a little piece of land in the middle of a world-class industrial area?” he said.
A little piece of land with no water source soon to be surrounded by four-lane roads.
“I've been fighting some of the ecology studies that they've done here, I don't believe it's all correct,” he said.
“I asked for an independent review, which I was entitled to ... they sent the same company back with a different person.
“That’s hardly independent at all.”
Two years ago Roberta Ryan, the Independent Community Commissioner for the Western Sydney Aerotropolis, who liaises between property owners and the government, warned Pochodyla wasn't being treated fairly.
“It feels pretty unfair to me that the people who have really looked after the environment now are being penalised because of the way that the environmental legislation is working,” she said at the time.
Pochodyla had a personal letter delivered to the NSW premier pleading for help, asking for it not to be referred to the planning minister, who he said wouldn’t listen.
Pochodyla hasn't heard back from anyone.
A Current Affair also put his questions to the premier, who referred us to the planning minister, who said Pochodyla’s property remains under consideration.
“I thought I'd be long gone, sold up, retired somewhere, enjoying the last years with a beer in my hand, probably walking on the beach,” he said.
“I'm doing everything in my power to try and get the attention of the right people, people in power who make decisions.
“As far as I'm concerned this is a dumb decision.”
Statement from NSW minister for planning and public spaces Paul Scully
The conservation zoning on Mr Pochodyla’s land protects Cumberland Plain Woodland, one of Western Sydney’s most threatened native ecosystems.
The NSW Government understands that conservation outcomes can have a significant impact on individual landowners.
The Cumberland Plain Conservation Plan established a targeted voluntary land acquisition program for eligible landholders whose properties are substantially affected by its requirements.
The property remains under consideration through existing CPCP modification processes, including the voluntary acquisition program.
Mr Pochodyla’s property is also being considered through an application to modify the CPCP.
The proposal seeks to reduce the area of the property identified for conservation by 3.16 hectares and increase the area available for development.
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