Despite backlash by a neighbouring family, a couple has had their plans for a new home on Picton Crescent approved by the City of Bunbury council.
An executive recommendation created by the City of Bunbury asked for a change to the Visual Privacy Requirements of the Residential Design Codes.
The proposal called for the home at Lot 147 Picton Crescent – built by John and Rhonda Bridgham – to be approved without the need for a visual privacy screening to be installed on an upper level glass bi-fold door.
One of their adjoining neighbours, Steve Scott-Higgins, had pleaded for the City of Bunbury to advise the Bridghams to make changes to their plans.
City officers had advised an array of neighbours about the Bridghams’ proposal, with Mr Scott-Higgins strongly objecting to it.
Mr Scott-Higgins sighted privacy concerns, saying the neighbours’ new property would have a balcony looking directly into his backyard and child’s bedroom without a screening.
Tecon Australia director Gary Fitzgerald told the council he had held discussions with Mr Scott-Higgins about the developments.
Presenting his research to council last week, Mr Fitzgerald said the Bridghams had fulfilled their roles and outlined every detail of their plans.
He asked the council to approve the recommendation because the house would be set well back from the front of the property.
The proposal had originally been discussed on July 10, with the matter deferred to allow for further deliberations by the owners.
If a decision had not been made by the 25th, council would have turned down the proposal leaving the owners to take the matter to the State Administrative Tribunal.
Council voted 8/2 in favour of the executive recommendation, asking for developments to begin within the next two years.
City of Bunbury Mayor Gary Brennan said the situation was out of the ordinary.
“This is one of those classic unfortunate neighbourhood disputes that has been decided upon by the city council,” he said.
“My advice to both neighbours is to try the best they can to put this behind them and get on with being good neighbours.
“There’s a lot of emotion and it has been enormously stressful for both parties.”
Council approves proposal for grouped dwellings on Spencer Street
The City of Bunbury signed off on plans for 44 grouped dwellings at Lot 246 and Lot 222 on Spencer Street, South Bunbury.
Council called for the developers to comply with the definition of ‘grouped dwellings’ as outlined in the local planning scheme and state planning policy.
As part of the agreement, the developers will need to begin construction within the next two years.
A landscaping plan must be delivered to the City of Bunbury’s Landscape Architect before construction commences.
The landscaped area must then be reticulated and planted before the homes are occupied.
The developers are only allowed to build letterboxes, permeable fences 1.2 metres high, and sections of uniform fence on the communal street setback area.
Council voted unanimously for the proposal ahead of the Tuesday, July 24 meeting.
During the public consultation process, four objections were received by the city discussing increased traffic, noise, the density of the development, and the provision of public open space.
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