Aussie family ordered to cut off side of new home after 'clear violation'
The two properties are so close together builders can't even wriggle between them.
An Aussie family has been forced to give their brand new home a "1.5 metre haircut" after an oversight saw two properties constructed beside one another merely 40 centimetres apart.
Gold Coast residents Kathy Morin and Devon Matsalla say their neighbour's property was built so close to their future home — still under construction — that they had struggled to reach completion on the project due to builders being unable squeeze scaffolding between the structures.
The gap between the homes, in Coomera Waters, was the subject of an investigation by Gold Coast City Council, who have now officially found the "neighbour's building plans were in clear violation of a setback requirement", A Current Affair reported.
The home owner says they "believed it had been approved".
Property owner forced to shave 1.5 metres from home
Since the problem was formally identified, the planning company behind the neighbours' build lodged a "minor change application" to council requesting retrospective approval of the dwelling — but Ms Morin and Mr Matsalla say the change wasn't minor at all.
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And authorities agree.
Gold Coast City Council has now determined the neighbour's second floor was not compliant with planning laws and gave them just six months to demolish a whopping 1.5 metres from their finished home. The extensive renovation has already begun.
Now, after an almost year-long saga, Ms Morin says she's finally vindicated.
"I mean, finally justice was done. We'd been waiting so long and so stressed out," she said.
The couple can now focus on their own build, which was stalled, but can now resume in the new year.
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