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Family's tree change nightmare as home turns into a swamp

A pair of young WA parents have become embroiled in a three-year battle with their local council after they claim works on their acreage have turned their property into a potentially dangerous boggy marsh.

Hannah and Ricky live on a large property near Donnybrook south of Perth. They purchased the land because under council regulations it allows them to keep animals.

But three years ago, Hannah said she came home, looked out the window and noticed machinery on the family’s property.

Her partner went outside to speak with the workers who told him they were doing routine maintenance on the drain. The couple claim The Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup never warned them contractors were going to be conducting work on their property.

Hannah and Ricky purchased a large property south of Perth to keep animals and give space for their kids to play. Source: Today Tonight
Hannah and Ricky purchased a large property south of Perth to keep animals and give space for their kids to play. Source: Today Tonight

Hannah said the drainage “unfortunately runs completely through” the family’s property and watched on in disbelief as the machinery soon became swallowed by the ground.

“A digger became stuck and then they brought in another machine and that got stuck and then another got stuck,” Hannah told Today Tonight.

“At one point there was three machines sinking on our property.”

The family claim council works have damaged their property. Source: Today Tonight
The family claim council works have damaged their property. Source: Today Tonight

Rick described the moved earth as “up and down like a volcano had gone off”.

Eventually, the machinery was rescued but the couple said the damage had been done.

A piece of machinery sinks in the mud. Source: Today Tonight
A piece of machinery sinks in the mud. Source: Today Tonight

They claim logs and wood, which was used by workers to free the equipment, was buried and sand was placed on top.

But this has only exacerbated the problem.

“As they've rotted away obviously they create sink holes and dangerous areas for our animals and our children,” Hannah said.

Rick added the ground is now unstable and the area around the machinery “hasn’t been fixed at all”.

Vision shows the block in winter with drainage pouring in under it. The couple believes the works have now permanently changed the lower part of the property and blame council.

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The family keep a number of animals on the property. Source: Today Tonight
The family keep a number of animals on the property. Source: Today Tonight

Rick said council has offered to buy the section of damaged land, but the family don’t want to sell it because “the whole reason we moved here was for the space”. It would also impact their ability to keep animals under council regulations.

Instead, the couple want the drainage easement replaced and for council to consider a land swap. Hannah has suggested “a partial road closure” of the gravel road outside their home.

Council issued a statement saying its “deeply empathetic” towards the family and has been working with them over an extended period of time. It added the matter is complex and involves a number of parties.

However, Rick said the family has been trying for a solution for nearly four years and he doesn’t see one happening anytime soon.