Fourteen properties are being compulsorily acquired by the Department of Planning for the rail link on which construction is to start this year.

Residents said they are not being fairly compensated as the land would be worth a lot more once the area is developed.

The properties were to be acquired by last Friday, July 24, but the majority of residents are challenging the resumptions in court.

The problem was discussed on talkback radio this week.

One presenter called on Camden MP Geoff Corrigan to help.

Mr Corrigan said he felt sympathy for some of the residents but that some were expecting too much money.

``Some people have unrealistic expectations because they remember what house prices were like in 2007, when a two-hectare block could sell for $3million,'' he said.

``That's not the reality now.

``It's unrealistic to expect the government to pay residents what their land could be worth in 10 years' time.

``They are being paid what it's worth now, just as with any purchase.

``Saying that, I've made representations on behalf of each of the residents that have approached me. I've done all I can.''

Landowner Francesca Vambuca said: ``All we want is either get a better price than the $77 per square metre that they are giving us, or to keep as much of our block as we can. This land is worth at least $225 per square metre, and that's the determination of my valuer.

``They could just take the section needed for the corridor and we would allow them to use the other parts of our land free of charge.

``They want to take our land and sell it to developers later to make money. They always give us different excuses: at first they said it was because there was no access, but when we found there is a fire trail we could use they said it was because they needed it for construction.''