Elizabeth Drive Upgrade
Is Your Land Affected by the Elizabeth Drive Upgrade?
If your property is located along Elizabeth Drive between Cecil Hills and Luddenham, it may be impacted by the NSW Government’s proposed road upgrade. Understanding what this means for you is essential. Large-scale infrastructure projects can be challenging to navigate, but with the right advice, you can make informed decisions and protect your interests.
What is the Elizabeth Drive Upgrade?
The Elizabeth Drive Upgrade is part of a broader plan to support Western Sydney’s growth and the future Western Sydney International Airport. Elizabeth Drive is a key east-west corridor that connects local communities to the airport and surrounding employment lands.
Currently, Elizabeth Drive is mostly a two-lane undivided road with limited safety features and growing traffic. To meet future demand, the road will be upgraded to include four lanes, a central median, pedestrian and cycling paths, and new landscaping. These changes will ease congestion, improve safety, and enhance access across the Western Sydney Aerotropolis.
The upgrade is split into two key sections:
- Elizabeth Drive West (ED West) – 3.6 km between The Northern Road and the future M12 crossing at Badgerys Creek
- Elizabeth Drive East (ED East) – 7.8 km from the M12 crossing to 600 metres east of Duff Road at Cecil Park


What is Compulsory Land Acquisition?
Compulsory acquisition, also known as resumption or compulsory purchase, is when government authorities acquire private land for public infrastructure projects. This process, while legal, must comply with strict guidelines to ensure property owners are fairly compensated and treated respectfully.
How We Help with Land Acquisition
If your land is affected by the Elizabeth Drive Upgrade, it’s important to understand your rights and options. Whether you’re facing partial acquisition, full acquisition, or other project-related impacts, we’re here to support you through the process.
Hones Lawyers assist with:
- Understanding the Process: From the initial notification of resumption to the final stages of compensation and settlement, we provide clarity at every step.
- Ensuring Fair Compensation: We help you secure the market value of your property, along with additional entitlements such as relocation expenses, financial losses tied to the acquisition, and compensation for business-related impacts, including loss of income or disruption to operations.
- Representation and Negotiation: We advocate for you in discussions with government agencies to achieve the best possible outcome.
- Dispute Resolution: Whilst our aim is to achieve a fair settlement as efficiently and cost effectively as possible, we will guide you through mediation or legal proceedings if necessary.
Why Choose Hones Lawyers for Resumption and Acquisition Support?
We’ve worked with hundreds of property owners across Sydney on compulsory acquisition and infrastructure matters. With a strong track record and deep understanding of land and property law, we tailor our advice to suit your unique situation.
The Elizabeth Drive Upgrade may bring uncertainty, but you don’t have to face it alone. We’re here to make sure you are treated fairly and that your rights are protected from start to finish.
Compulsory Acquisition FAQs
What is compulsory aquisition, and how does it affect my property?
Compulsory acquisition, also known as resumption or compulsory purchase, is the process where the government acquires private property for public projects. If your property is affected, you may need to vacate the land, but you are entitled to fair compensation.
How is compensation determined for properties acquired for NSW projects?
Compensation is based on the market value of your property in Sydney, along with other factors such as relocation costs, loss of income, and additional entitlements related to the NSW project. We can help ensure that your compensation fully reflects the value of your property and the impact of the acquisition.
Can I challenge the acquisition of my property?
Yes, you have the right to challenge certain aspects of the compulsory acquisition process, such as the amount of compensation or the justification for the NSW project impacting your land. Our expert team can guide you through the appeals process to protect your rights.
How long does the compulsory acquisition process take for properties?
The timeline for land acquisition for NSW projects can vary. Typically, the process starts with a formal notice and includes valuation, negotiation, and settlement stages. Any disputes may extend the timeline.
How can you assist property owners affected by NSW projects?
We provide comprehensive support to property owners affected by NSW projects, including explaining the process, securing fair compensation, handling negotiations, and resolving disputes. Our goal is to make the acquisition process as straightforward as possible while ensuring your rights are upheld.
Customer Testimonials
We’ve helped thousands of clients throughout NSW with their legal matters.
Over the past four years, my wife and I have experienced the burden of an easement that was placed over our property by the previous owner of an adjacent property. The current neighbour holding the dominant tenement rights considered that he had exclusive use of the section of our property covered by the easement. He seemed to have little or no social conscious, and caused us much unnecessary distress by his intrusion, and practice of "storing" his unwanted possessions in our place. Something had to be done about it particularly as I was fearful of leaving my wife at the mercy of his bullying and intimidating behaviour should I pre-decease her, given our age difference. I asked a barrister friend if she could recommend a solicitor(s) who specialise in easements. I was given a list of solicitors at the top of which was Hones Lawyers. I decided to seek the help of Jason Hones and his team, and it has turned out to be one of the best decisions I have ever made in my 87 years lifetime. Jason, together with his associate Peter Clarke handled our matter for the best part of two years during which they were at all times respectful to us, and attended in a most competent and professional way to every one of our concerns and steps along the way. Hones Lawyers represented us in communications with our neighbours' solicitors, and did everything in their power to achieve a mutually agreeable outcome. Their efforts were continually hampered by obfuscation from the other side until it finally became obvious that our only course of action was to take the matter to court. Under the expert guidance of Jason and Peter, our matter was heard in the Supreme Court of NSW and we are extremely grateful to have been successful in achieving judgement in our favour, and the purported easement has been declared invalid. As mentioned earlier, we are impressed with the respect we received at all times from Hones Lawyers, as well as their conscious effort to communicate with us without confusing us with "legal speak". Their selection of senior and junior counsel was spot on and achieved an excellent legal team to represent our interests. Jason personally came with us to make the introduction to counsel and sat with us through the preparation negotiations. Throughout the whole process Peter Clarke proved to be a very intelligent and extremely competent young man, a valuable representative for his organisation, and was always polite and available for our every requirement. In conclusion, we have absolutely no hesitation in recommending Hones Lawyers to anyone who wants competent legal representation carried out properly and efficiently. Max (and Janet) Petrie Max Petrie13 August 2024 Peter has recently represented me in a matter & I have found him to be incredibly knowledgeable, extremely articulate and very responsive. He also has an impressive network of professionals around him and he has a “get it done” attitude. I would have no hesitation in recommending him and Hones & I would definitely retain his services again. Matt McEwan30 May 2024 I have been working with Jane Mercer over the past few weeks finalising everything for settlement on my new place. Jane has been one of the most helpful and plesant people I have dealt with throughout my property purchasing journey. She is friendly, responsive, helpful, took a lot of time to explain things to me I was not clear on and got my settlement done in 15 days! I would highly recommend using Hones Lawyers and especially Jane who was an absolute pleasure to work with. Would happily engage with Jane any time I need help. Thank you Jane! miranda rutherford20 May 2024 I highly recommend this law firm. I recently engaged them to handle the conveyancing of my house and was very impressed with their knowledge and attention to detail. Wilana23 November 2021 Hones Lawyers, This company team can be trust, understand well your thought, professional battle a case on your behalf, and respond your question quickly. Special "Gavin" is my favorite, he is well organized, polite and so gentlemen guide us step by step for your worry since start to finish. Thanks for your help our case Gavin for finalized easement matter with plaintiff in mid this year 2020, and you and your team done great job. Minh Le30 June 2020