The Baird government's plans for the West Connex, North Connex, North West Rail Link, new light rail in inner Sydney and Parramatta and a raft of new roads in western Sydney will displace thousands of families.

Labor will use the special sitting of parliament on Wednesday to give notice of an amendment to the land acquisition law in the upper house.

Negotiations already underway between Transport NSW and home owners in Surry Hills and Haberfield have become bitter, with residents complaining of below-market offers from the government.

Only 20 of 69 owners at the Olivia Gardens apartments in Surry Hills have struck a deal with Transport NSW, despite an August deadline for compulsory acquisitions to make way for a light rail route.

‘‘If I haven’t agreed by that date, my apartment isn’t mine anymore. I will have to go to the Land and Environment Court. It's putting so much stress on me. I need to find somewhere to live,’’ Carsten Koehler, 47, said.

Mr Koehler has lived in his ‘‘perfect’’ home for 10 years and believes the initial offer of $820,000 for his two bedroom, air-conditioned apartment was ‘‘a joke’’. He loves the vibrancy of Surry Hills, where he can ‘‘walk everywhere’’, and wants to stay in the area.

Amid a property market boom, Transport NSW has raised its offer, but Mr Koehler says it is still $30,000 less than other neighbours have been paid. ‘‘I’m still negotiating and I’m not getting anywhere,’’ he says.

The tactics and delays by the government negotiators were ‘‘shameful’’, he said, with some families who had agreed on a price left waiting months for payment and forced onto expensive bridging finance to purchase new homes.

Labor wants these disputes to be heard in the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal, which would cost $500, and give faster remedies.

‘‘This is about giving a fair hearing to local families,’’ Opposition leader John Robertson said.

Labor believes the proximity of a home to transport, shops, schools, parks or family should also be considered in any government valuation.

‘‘This legislation gives the community the opportunity to pursue claims that they feel are unjust and do not take into account their unique circumstances,’’ Mr Robertson said.

Labor’s transport spokeswoman Penny Sharpe said residents being displaced by infrastructure projects felt the government ‘‘is running right over the top of them’’.

Sue O’Keefe is another Olivia Gardens resident who finally agreed a price with Transport NSW last month but is unhappy with the ‘‘appalling process’’ that, at one point, hadthe government renege on a price agreed by its valuer.

‘‘We were going to stay here for 20 years and had just spent $200,000 renovating two apartments,’’ she said.

Transport NSW told her she would not be compensated for the renovations, but also refused to allow her to take her new Miele kitchen appliances with her, raising her suspicions.

She is unhappy with the aggressive tactics used against some of her neighbours. ‘‘They told one widow, ‘You don’t want to be a drain on the public purse do you?’’’

Ms O’Keefe says a tribunal process to settle disputes would be faster and cheaper than court.

To pass the upper house, the bill will need the support of the Shooters Party. The Shooters' Robert Borsak has previously advocated for Ashfield residents affected by the West Connex.