Aussie mother concerned about encroaching building site next door – Nine Shows

by | Oct 9, 2022 | Engineer

When Livia built her family home 12 years ago, there were rules.
Fast forward to now and her new next-door neighbours can legally push those once-council-decided boundaries.
A double-storey duplex development dubbed the Castle of Concord, which is higher, wider and longer than anything else in Livia's street, is underway.
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"It is going to tower over our house," the mother-of-two said.
"We had no advanced knowledge of what was coming at all, until it was started to be constructed."
The land was purchased by a Chinese developer, who hired Hermes Shabu's company, Homme Certifiers, to tick off on the $1 million plan.
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Shabu has the power under New South Wales law to approve developments, provided they comply with building guidelines and are in the public interest.
Livia and some of her fellow residents believe the duplex does not comply.
"It's the worst thing that could happen to us," she said.
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"We'll have eyes on us at all times."
A brick wall constructed at the side of Livia's home casts a shadow over the property from mid-afternoon.
The mother-of-two also took us to a bathroom inside her home, where she could almost touch the adjoining development.
"We won't be able to have a bath with the window open," she said.
Even the builder seemingly had problems with the size of the development, with Canada Bay Council forced to intervene when the construction scaffolding crossed the property boundaries and even rested against Livia's home.
"I just came home from work and there it was," Livia said.
The builder has since moved the scaffolding.
NSW Fair Trading is responsible for policing certifier-approved plans.
Shabu was given an opportunity to do an interview and didn't return our calls.
Council has undertaken enforcement action at 12 Colane Street, Concord West following a complaint and the compliance issue has subsequently been addressed by the developer.
The approval of the development at 12 Colane Street was issued by a private certifier via the State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) Low Rise Housing Diversity Code (SEPP).
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