Family's housing fight after nearby drilling damages structure, causes mudslide

For more than a year, Matt, Tara and their young son have been unable to live in their Blue Mountains home.

Two years ago, Transport for NSW contractor Abergeldie was performing drilling works outside their home when it began to shake.

"I could hear the drill going, and it was very loud, a very loud rumbling underground, then hearing the house physically move," Tara said.

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But panic really set in when their front door became jammed and mud began pouring into their yard.

"I called over the foreman that was doing the drilling out there, and he looked at me like I had two heads," Matt said.

"He's like, 'oh, nothing we were doing would impact your house'."

However, the young mum and dad say they've been told there are potentially dangerous lead paint and dust levels inside the house after cracking throughout the home's structure caused paint to chip.

"We got the hygienist in, and the lead levels were, particularly in the lounge room, 13 per cent - and problematic lead level exposure is 0.1 per cent so that was terrifying," Tara said.

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Tara says the family had no idea about the toxic material and fears the impact it may have on their toddler.

"I was furious because they had the ability to act on it and investigate it, and they didn't. So it's a lot of guilt for me."

The family is now in limbo, buried in paperwork and reports and facing up to $135,000 in damage repairs, as they wait for the NSW government and Abergeldie to step up.

Abergeldie has been contacted for comment.

FULL TRANSPORT FOR NSW STATEMENT

Transport for NSW is continuing to work directly with the owners to help address their concerns arising from the incident on 23 November 2023.

Transport has acknowledged the incident should not have occurred and has undertaken a number of interim steps.

As an interim step, Transport offered fully furnished alternate accommodation at Transport's cost, to provide the property owners with a level of comfort whilst their claim is reviewed.

As this is a current legal matter it is not appropriate for Transport to provide any further comment.