Palmdale granny flat approved despite 100 objections
A grandmother wanting to retire and build a granny flat on her daughter’s property in Palmdale didn’t think the process would take two years and attracted 100 objections.
Central Coast
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A granny flat which attracted a whopping 100 objections has been approved in Palmdale.
It has taken grandmother Robyn Welland almost two years to get her granny flat signed off so she can retire on her daughter’s property on Palmdale Rd and be close to her grandchildren.
Ms Welland initially met with Central Coast Council in June 2018 and the $180,000 granny flat was finally given the tick of approval at last week’s council meeting.
It was approved in December 2019, however a rescission motion was lodged by councillors Louise Greenaway, Jillian Hogan and Kyle MacGregor to overturn the approval.
Ms Welland told councillors the situation had taken its toll when all she wanted to do was retire near her grandchildren.
“This period has been stressful and difficult,” she said. “I have spent significant money on additional reports and advice and have been living out of boxes in a spare bedroom, unable to set up a life for myself.”
“To now be looking down the barrel of the Land and Environment Court is astounding.”
The 100 plus objections were based around issues with the watercourse known as Canada Drop Down Creek which cuts across the site of the proposed flat. The watercourse is prone to flooding.
Residents voiced concerns about the effluent disposal system and impacts on the environment and local wildlife. They also highlighted areas of noncompliance in the DA, with the setback from the watercourse less than 40m. Setbacks for effluent disposal systems are required to be 100m from a watercourse according to council’s planning controls.
“The variation is necessary as there is no alternative due to the steep gradients elsewhere on the site,” the council report read.
Objector Lorelle Fitzpatrick told councillors that the neighbours simply want council to “consistently apply its planning controls”.
“We support a secondary dwelling, just not in this location,” she said.
Elizabeth Ashby said the DA had noncompliances, inconsistencies and was unacceptable to biodiversity and habitats.
She said recent floods should highlight the inappropriate location of the effluent disposal system, while there were endangered species in the area including the golden tipped bat and platypus which could be affected by development.