Carrickalinga residents welcome decision ordering owner to lower the height of his 8.9m tall beachside property

THE owner of a beachside property built nearly a metre higher than allowed will have to go back to the drawing board after officials rejected an offer to reduce the height.

Carrickalinga Ratepayers Association members John Lawrence, David Catherwood and Chris Mather outside the controversial property at 9 Gold Coast Drive, Carrickalinga. Picture: Dylan Coker

THE owner of a beachside property built nearly a metre higher than allowed will have to go back to the drawing board after the council rejected an offer to reduce the height.

Yankalilla Council’s assessment panel today rejected a redesign by Stephen Marks that would have lowered the height of the three-storey building by 49.5cm to 8.375m - still 38.5cm taller than what the council approved.

The Sunday Mail reported on the weekend that the Carrickalinga Residents Association, describing the partially-built house as an “eyesore”, had demanded Mr Marks abide by an Environment Resources and Development Court ruling and reduce the Gold Coast Drive property to the approved 7.995m.

The partially-built house at 9 Gold Coast Drive, Carrickalinga, was built nearly a metre taller than what was approved. Picture: Dylan Coker

The council issued a stop work order against Mr Marks in 2015 after residents’ concerns that the property was taller than approved.

Today’s decision - made after a lengthy confidential meeting - will mean that Mr Marks and the council will return to the ERD Court to negotiate a new agreement.

CRA president Dr Chris Hughes welcomed the assessment panel’s decision.

“At the end of the day we just want some resolution on this,” he said. “This has been going on for two-and-a-half years.”

Yankalilla Council chief executive Nigel Morris said the council will seek to have the building returned to the approved height.

The Advertiser has sought comment from Mr Marks.