IN an echo of the Aussie movie classic The Castle, in which unlikely suburban hero Darryl Kerrigan refuses to be evicted from his home to make way for an airport expansion, stubborn residents of Badgerys Creek say they won’t go quietly to enable construction of Sydney’s second airport to begin.

A dozen tenants, who have leased homes and acreages within the airport boundary for more than 20 years — at reduced rents now as low as $300 a week — are fighting the federal government’s June 15 deadline to force them out.

media_camera Darryl Kerrigan and family in a scene from “The Castle”. Picture: Roadshow

They received official notice in November that they must vacate so preliminary work can begin ahead of next year’s construction start date.

Some of the 163 tenants within the 1700ha site have already packed up, and contractors have begun knocking down vacant homes.

But with the help of city barrister Peter King, some of those remaining are arguing in the Federal Circuit Court the government has treated them harshly by not acting under the appropriate tenancy laws and not giving them enough time to find somewhere else suitable to live.

media_camera John and Deborah Lam have been Badgerys Creek residents for 26 years. Picture: Jonathan Ng

About 80 other tenants are still on the land with less than four weeks ­before the deadline, and many are saying they have nowhere else to go.

They now face the likelihood of having their water, power and garbage collection cut off.

In April last year Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced that the airport would be going ahead.

Infrastructure Minister Warren Truss said yesterday the government had already doubled the amount of notice it is legally obliged to give tenants, from three to six months.

media_camera Demolition of some vacant homes to make way for the Badgerys Creek airport site has begun. Picture: Jonathan Ng

media_camera The remains of a vacant home on Longleys Road that has been demolished to make way for the Badgerys Creek airport site. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“Properties have typically been rented at below market rates,” Mr Truss said. “Month-to-month leases have been in place due to the longstanding possibility that Badgerys would become the site of an airport.”

John and Debra Lam, who have been renting a 2ha property from the Commonwealth for 26 years, say a six-month deadline out is too tough.

“I’ve got all my equipment for my earthmoving businesses. It’s not easy finding a similar property in the area that can take this stuff,” Mr Lam said.

media_camera Dumped precessions outside a vacant house on Taylor Road in Badgerys Creek. Picture: Jonathan Ng

media_camera Dumped furniture outside a vacant house on Ferndale Road in Badgerys Creek. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Caroline Lockey and her partner Bill Carr, who run a wedding carriage business, said they were struggling to find alternative accommodation for themselves and their horses.

“We’ve been looking at buying a property near Marulan, but that takes time and to find a place to rent that can take the horses is hard.

“It’s not like the bulldozers are going to be at the end of our drive on June 16. What’s the big rush?”

media_camera Vacant Badgerys Creek Public School will be demolished to make way for the Badgerys Creek airport site. Picture: Jonathan Ng