Dad forced to apply for approval from Mitcham Council to keep kids’ cubby house
A DAD who built a cubby house with his two sons has been forced to apply for development approval from his local council to avoid it being torn down.
WHEN Chris Della Vedova and his two boys, Zach and Harry, started building a cubby house on the Easter long weekend last year they thought it would bring the family years of enjoyment.
Instead, it caused them months of frustration as they were forced to apply for development approval from Mitcham Council’s Development Assessment Panel to avoid having to pull it down.
The cubby was approved this month, but Dr Della Vedova says the ordeal has left him with a bitter taste in his mouth.
Dr Della Vedova said the family did not realise it needed to apply to build the cubby house, which is 2.2 by 2.3 metres and on stilts 1.5m above the ground.
“The boys had been badgering for a tree fort and this was a compromise,” Dr Della Vedova said.
“We didn’t really think we needed to contact the council ... it seemed like such a minor thing.”
He said they spoke to a number of neighbours before building the cubby house who were fine with it and did not see the need to contact the council.
He said the family returned from a family trip in North America last June to a letter from the council saying the cubby house was a noncompliant structure which needed permission or be torn down.
Dr Della Vedova thought it “was a joke” but did not want to get on the wrong side of the council so proceeded with a development application.
“It’s in the back of your mind, am I going to have to tear this down because it is going to break my poor kids’ hearts.
“I had a cubby when I was a kid which I built with dad over a couple of weekends — it is just one of those things you do with a dad.”
Dr Della Vedova felt the council only became involved because of a complaint from a neighbour.
He said it was difficult to explain to his children, seven and five years old, because they did not understand.
The development application cost the family $300 and Dr Della Vedova said he felt embarrassed sitting at the assessment panel meeting for hours over something so minor.
Mitcham Council chief executive Matthew Pears encouraged people unsure of whether they needed approval to contact the council.
“While cubby houses are constructed for or by children, many residents do not realise that council approval, similar to what is required for a shed, may be necessary,” he said.
Mr Pears said the council did not actively investigate cubby houses which did not have approval, rather reacted on complaints or concerns from neighbours.
He said any cubby house found to be built without approval would be investigated and require an application for assessment.
He said the council may require a cubby be removed if it is unsafe or poses a danger, or if an application is refused.
In the past three years five development applications for cubby houses have been submitted to the council. Four have been approved, with one application withdrawn.