Sydney family has gas connections banned in new home build as Lane Cove Council’s climate planning laws take force

A Sydney family has been left fuming after a local council refused to allow them to install gas connections in their home redevelopment plans due to concerns over climate change.

A Sydney family has been left fuming after a local council refused to allow them to install gas connections in their home redevelopment plans due to concerns over climate change.

Riverview couple Salil Ray and Vaidehi Adhikari are calling on Lane Cove Council to reconsider strict restrictions it imposed on their $1.5m home redevelopment plan which stipulate all gas devices including cooktops, heating and hot water must be replaced with electric alternatives.

The decision is believed to be among the first time the council has imposed such conditions after a majority of councillors voted to change local planning laws which now require all new residential builds to adopt electric power rather than gas devices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The move also stands at odds with the NSW Government which does not support a statewide move away from gas connections in new homes.

It comes after Premier Chris Minns said there was renewables coming into the system and fears the gas bans could complicate an already protracted development application process.

Ms Adhikari said she was incensed by the decision.

Gas cooking is not supported in new home builds as part of recent planning changes by Lane Cove Council.

“It’s ridiculous given we can already have a gas connection in the home we’re looking to rebuild, it’s not as though we’re asking for a new pipeline or connection,” she said.

“It’s just building a house on what we already have.

“Initially everything was fine with the plans and then at the last stage we got a call from council they said there was an error and we have to take all references to gas out of the development application if it was to be approved.

The family’s home renovation plan.

“We were completely blindsided by it.

“We’ve even gone to solar panels to help offset energy use but that still wasn’t good enough.”

Ms Adhikari said the conditions could result in extra costs including the redesign of architectural plans. She also has concerns over operating costs associated with electric connections.

Gas cooktops are not allowed in new home builds under the planning laws.

“I’m of Indian origin and cooking on electric is a nightmare – it takes so long and doest give the same effect,” she said.

“In Indian cooking, you need to lower the temperature and up and down, whereas with electricity it takes a while to moderate the heat.

“The argument that electricity is more climate friendly doesn’t make sense because we’ll still be drawing on the energy grid which uses coal.”

While the State Government has not supported a statewide ban, the Department of Planning has said it was not involved in the preparation of local planning laws enacted by councils.

Lane Cove Mayor Merri Southwood.

A Lane Cove Council spokeswoman said the changes to its planning laws “was in response to the Climate Emergency and the now known health impacts of gas usage in buildings”.

Thirteen councils across Sydney have already taken steps to investigate changing local planning laws to deter gas devices being installed in new home builds – however some councils have rejected gas bans including Canada Bay as well as Willoughby, which borders Lane Cove Council.

The Riverview family say they had considered appealing the council conditions in the Land and Environment Court, however chose not to pursue the move due to potential delays and costs.

Independent Lane Cove councillor Scott Bennison has lambasted the gas ban, describing it “extreme climate ideology”.

“The net zero obsession is fantasy land stuff and it makes the development process which is already complicated enough even more confusing for people,” he said.

“It’s generally the white privileged that can afford this and its all based on the theory that the world is going to blow up in 10 years.”

Lane Cove Mayor Merri Southwood has previously supported the council’s new planning laws but chose not to comment on the Riverview development.