Insights

Governments can compulsorily acquire private land for public purposes in Victoria. Learn how the process works, what compensation you can claim, and why independent legal advice is essential. Expert guidance from Anton Dunhill, Hunt & Hunt Lawyers.

Affected by VNI West or another infrastructure project? Learn how compulsory acquisition works in Victoria and what compensation may be available.

Market value might grab the headlines in compulsory acquisition cases, but it is often the hidden costs that matter most. The Manor Lakes litigation reshaped how Victorian courts treat disturbance, confirming that stamp duty on replacement land is not a sunk cost, but a compensable consequence of losing development “stock in trade”. For developers and authorities alike, it remains the definitive guide to replenishing land banks after acquisition.

A land sale is not “sold” for compensation purposes when the contract is signed. The Plunkett decision confirms settlement is the critical trigger—reshaping how timing, valuation and costs risk must be managed.

A family farm. A compulsory acquisition. And a valuation claim that jumped from $7.7 million to $64 million before collapsing at VCAT. The Sparrovale case shows how land is really valued in Victoria — and why speculative claims don’t survive scrutiny.

A landmark Victorian Court of Appeal ruling has settled a decades-old compensation battle, confirming how historic planning blight payments must be treated when land is finally acquired. The Jomaring decision closes a loophole and reinforces a core principle of compulsory acquisition law: the public should never pay for the same land twice.

The Stella case draws a sharp line around disturbance compensation, confirming that reinvestment costs are not always a recoverable loss. A cautionary tale for landowners navigating life after acquisition.

The Brompton Lodge litigation is a defining case on compulsory acquisition and planning reservation compensation, drawing a hard line between real financial loss and hypothetical valuation.

The Provans case is a masterclass in how compulsory acquisition claims can unravel — from intertwined statutory offers to the harsh reality of fragile tenancy interests and strict causation rules.

From graduate to principal — Anna Shaw’s decade-long rise at Hunt & Hunt Lawyers reaches a major milestone in Melbourne as a new principal in our leading Compulsory Acquisition team.