Castle Hill residents reveal Toplace out of hour construction breaches at Skyview development
RESIDENTS surrounding the Toplace Skyview development site at Castle Hill have been facing nightmare conditions as “construction continues around the clock”.
Hills Shire
Don't miss out on the headlines from Hills Shire. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Court orders stop work for two towers at 189 Macquarie St
- Castle Hill 1.42ha land plot sells for a record $140m
RESIDENTS surrounding the Toplace Skyview development site at Castle Hill have been facing nightmare conditions as “construction continues around the clock”.
Homeowners at Gay St have lashed out at the developers behind the multi-million residential development for providing little to no notice for out-of-hours work that has seen construction start as early as 6.53am on September 5 and continue work until 1.30am the following morning, residents say.
One resident, who wished only to be referred to as Emily, said she was willing to fight the developers in court over breaches of its development consent after The Hills Shire Council “failed to penalise them for several breaches of work hours, noise and dust at the site”.
“We have been suffering from issues at the Toplace site since February,” she said.
“Toplace are not abiding by the development consent set out by council. This is the fourth time we have been notified of out-of-work hours. However, they start early and finish late on a regular occurrence.
“Construction continues around the clock.”
The resident said noise from the construction site lasted long into the night.
“You can hear a constant noise as late as 1.30am, coming from the construction site,” she said.
“We are also experiencing massive amounts of dust from the construction site.
“Toplace was supposed to come and clean this. We were told six weeks ago that this would happen. However, we are still waiting.”
Emily called for the council to implement more stringent policy to fine developers when they breach consent of development.
“I want to see council order the developer to cease all work at the construction site until the developer starts to recognise the regulations within the development consent,” she said.
A Hills Shire Council spokeswoman said Toplace had been issued a fine for breaching hours of operation consent.
“Council officers have been actively monitoring the site and they have taken action to enforce the terms of consent,” the spokeswoman said.
“Officers has met with the construction manager, the site manager and the solicitor acting on the behalf of the developer on a number of occasions to reinforce the terms of their approval.”
The spokeswoman said the council did not approve work to be carried outside the authorised hours of operation without residents being informed beforehand.
However, Toplace spokesman Mark Fitzpatrick claimed statements from residents and the council were false.
“Toplace takes its responsibilities seriously and actively works to minimise the impact of the development on its neighbours,” he said.
“Under the development consent issued for this project, Toplace is permitted to carry out works outside normal working hours, in certain specific circumstances.
“Toplace has at all times complied with terms of its development consent; where required, Toplace has sought and obtained council’s consent for out of hours activities.”
The spokesman said the developer was working with the council to address issues raised by residents.