Couple quoted $70,000 to remove phone cables from their Wallaroo block ending new home dream

A family's house plans are in turmoil - and they now face a $70,000 bill - after unearthing phone cables buried on their block.

A Telstra pit

A year ago, Amy Nottle and Luke Von Bertouch began digging the foundations for their dream home in the Copper Cove Marina at Wallaroo.

They had hoped to move into the property last December but hopes evaporated when they discovered fibre-optic cables were buried deep in the middle block.

The couple is facing a potential $73,000 bill – more than the $70,000 they paid for the block – to move the Telstra and NBN cables, inset, and they want the state government to cover the costs.

“We don’t think it’s up to us to have to pay,” Ms Nottle, 27, a nurse at the Wallaroo Hospital, said. “We think it should be split among other houses, too.”

Luke Von Bertouch, Amy Nottle and their daughter, Savannah. Picture: Amy Nottle

Advice from Telstra to the Copper Coast Council, sighted by The Advertiser, reveals the cables “impact” about 15 prop­erties in the Wallaroo marina. It is understood some houses have been built over the cables.

Ms Nottle said they cancelled the building contract this month due to the cables and increased costs. They also lost a HomeBuilder grant.

Their neighbours, Nina and Frank Mazzilli, had a sale contract for their empty block fall through in April 2021 after the potential purchaser learnt cables also ran through the property, their daughter, Marisa Maiolo, said.

“Nobody told us they (the cables) were there when we bought the land. Obviously my parents can’t sell the land now without disclosing them,” Ms Maiolo said.

Telephone cables are not recorded on property titles but can be identified using Dial Before You Dig.

The marina was designated a major development in 1999, assigning planning approvals with the state government.

It’s the pits for Amy Nottle and Luke Von Bertouch who are facing a potential $70,000 bill to have telecommunications cables moved from their Wallaroo block.

Ms Maiolo said she received advice from the council that the government had to ensure services were in the correct place prior to allotments being created.

A Telstra spokesman said the marina developers did not engage Telstra to undertake an assessment of the cables.

“The works required to reroute the cables are extensiveincluding the relocating of over 800m of cable,” he said.

“These cables have been in place for more than 25 years and it is unfortunate that the development was planned without consideration for their location.”

Narungga MP Fraser Ellis, who has been lobbying on Ms Nottle’s behalf, commended Telstra on reducing the relocation costs. But he said he would continue to push the government to help cover the costs.

“It appears when approval was given the developer didn’t move the cables and no one enforced the moving of the cables,” he said. “Someone along the line has stuffed up.”