Planning U-turn transforms couple’s dream home into nightmare
A Sunshine Coast couple are left feeling like “nobody really cares” after a local council allowed their neighbour to build so close to their home, you can’t fit a tennis ball between the two properties.
After years of saving, Jake Philpott and Kaylie Stott moved their young family into what should have been their dream home six months ago.
After years of saving, Jake and his family moved into what should have been their dream home. A Current Affair
Philpott described it as “probably the greatest accomplishment I’ve ever really made”.
“We’ve thrown everything at this. We don’t have investment properties, we don’t have another house. This is everything that we’ve got.”
The Harmony development by Avid Property Group is a multibillion-dollar housing project at Palmview on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.
Two years ago, the couple had to camp out overnight to secure a 322-square-metre block for $386,000.
Space is at a premium on all the blocks in the new estate, with most under 400 square metres in size, but only one place is built as close as their neighbours – the gutters from the two buildings are almost touching.
“You can’t even fit a tennis ball in the gap here, who wants to live this close to your neighbours?” Philpott asked.
From the air, the roofs are so close it almost looks like one house, and the couple even hear their neighbours’ builders walking on theirs.
“I heard something, and I was like, ‘Is someone on our roof?’” Stott said.
“And I popped out the front and the tradies are lovely but they were on our roof and ultimately it’s because they’ve built so close.”
Stott said she was in shock when she saw the frames go up next door.
“I couldn’t believe it. I’m aware that the houses around here are fairly close, it’s the nature of the beast, but that was disappointing.”
The plan of development. A Current Affair
Not only was it disappointing, but based on the Plan of Development, it was unauthorised.
A blue line indicates which blocks are allowed to be built right to the boundary. The neighbouring corner block is not one of them.
“Everyone else that’s built around here has had to abide by the rules, including us,” Philpott said.
“If we knew that someone was going to build to the boundary like that, we probably wouldn’t have bought this block, or we might have not built our house to the boundary.”
While a stop-work order was initially placed on the property, Sunshine Coast Council has now approved an application for a relaxation, allowing the building to be built right to the boundary.
A spokesperson for Sunshine Coast Council said the garage setback was “initially approved by a private building certifier”.
“After the issue was identified, a minor change application was lodged and assessed by Sunshine Coast Council under the Planning Act,” the spokesperson said.
Queensland planning laws do not allow neighbours any right to appeal decisions on this type of application. A Current Affair
“Council determined that the reduced setback achieved the intended planning objectives and approval was granted.”
Queensland planning laws do not allow neighbours any right to appeal decisions on this type of application.
“There’s no pathway for us to make any sort of appeal, and they don’t have to acknowledge our concerns at all,” Philpott said.
“So basically, they’ve told us too bad, so sad. It’s just how it is.”
The owner of the neighbouring property also works for the construction company building it, with one sign calling it Precision Home, another Precision Homez – not to be confused with a well-established company with the same name in South Australia.
A spokesperson for Precision Home said “all plans were approved by a private certifier” prior to work starting.
Jake and Kaycie’s only hope now is their local state MP trying to help.
“It just feels like we’re just a little guy. Nobody really cares,” Philpott said.
Statement from Sunshine Coast Council
The garage setback at [address withheld] Palmview was initially approved by a private building certifier at a distance that did not comply with the approved Plan of Development for Harmony Estate.
After the issue was identified, a minor change application was lodged and assessed by Sunshine Coast Council under the Planning Act 2016 (Qld).
Council determined that the reduced setback achieved the intended planning objectives and approval was granted.
Queensland planning laws do not allow neighbours to appeal Council’s decision on this type of application.
If there are concerns about the actions of the private building certifier, they can be reported to the Queensland Building and Construction Commission.
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