Another example of short-sighted non-compliance

I am responding to your front page report in edition 461 and follow up letters in edition 462 regarding non-complying development.

I have lived in my home on Woy Woy Rd for over 15 years.

When I bought, I applied to renovate and extend the property.

During this process, I enquired about subdivision potential as the block of land was large (about 1100m2).

I was told categorically that the block was not big enough as to subdivide and that I would need 650m2 for the block, adjoining the water and 550m2 for the block adjoining the main road.

These were the local planning provisions.

I could easily do the mathematics and realised that my block did not comply.

Two years ago, my neighbours sold their house and moved.

The house was bought by a man from Sydney.

Sometime later he informed me that he was applying for a subdivision on his newly-acquired home.

I wished him luck but, as his block was no bigger than mine, I presumed he would get the same answer as I had previously as the planning provisions were still the same.

I was shocked when I was informed that he had succeeded.

On further investigation, from Council records, I found out that neither block complied.

One block varied by 22.4 per cent and the other by 14 per cent from the provisions.

Now an application for a "granny flat" has been passed on the front block.

This means that three dwellings will now cover a block, which according to the provisions, is not big enough for two.

Indeed, if one extrapolates the area taken up by the drive serving the three proposed properties (113.8m2) then the average size of the blocks is barely 325m2.

Woy Woy Rd is a very busy road and records show that well over 20,000 vehicles use it daily.

A single carriage way drive services this site.

This is inadequate: More cars, no on street parking, limited off street parking, more storm water from three rooves and sewage.

I could go on.

This is just one personal example of this Council and non-compliance.

It is short-sighted and I cannot understand why the provisions are in place but not enforced.

Email, 29 Jan 2019

Lisa Mills, Woy Woy