Why massive tower crane has loomed over homes on Illawong street for eight years and counting

A massive crane that has loomed over homes in Sydney’s south for eight years and counting is leaving residents at their wits’ end with impacted homeowners demanding action on the “eyesore” structure.

A photo of the crane which has towered over homes on the residential street.

A massive crane that has loomed over homes in Sydney’s south for eight years and counting is leaving residents at their wits’ end with impacted homeowners demanding action on the “eyesore” structure.

Sutherland Shire Council has been urged to investigate the continued presence of a tower crane that was lawfully set up to carry out redevelopment works on a home at 191 Fowler Rd in Illawong back in 2016.

Eight years after the crane was installed, the redevelopment of the home has yet to eventuate and the site remains a fenced-off vacant building site.

Homeowners in the residential street claim the crane has become an eyesore that is attracting trespassers and presenting safety issues.

Resident Simon McTigue made an impassioned plea at last week’s Sutherland Shire Council meeting calling for any action that could be taken to have the structure removed.

“The people on Fowler Rd have been living with this for an enormous amount of time and it’s having a deleterious effect on our properties,” he said.

A photo of the building site. Picture: Google Maps

“The site gained development consent 10 years ago and eight years ago the tower crane was erected – that’s some 2900 days,” he said.

“Since then we’ve had some bulk earthworks and minor drainage works carried out on the site – but since then nothing has happened.

“The crane was meant to be a temporary structure and what it has become is a de facto permanent structure.

The crane has been standing on the street for eight years – and counting.

“What we want to see is either the house to get built or the crane to come down.”

Council planning records show a $800,000 home redevelopment proposal was approved for the site by the council back in 2014.

After early demolition works commenced, the records show a stop of work order was issued by the council due to alleged unapproved works relating to the construction of terraced sandstone retaining walls.

A concept image of the development that was intended to be built on the site.

In 2019, an agreement was reached in the Land and Environment Court that required the unapproved retaining walls at the site to be removed and for parts of the site that were cleared to be reinstated.

The last recorded council update on the development was in March 2023 when modifications to the 2014 development application were approved by the council for internal changes to the design of the home and an increase in the size of the swimming pool.

The home, however, has yet to be built and the crane remains in place.

Sutherland Shire councillor Laura Cowell has called for the council to conduct a report on the current status of the crane as well as any potential actions that could be taken to have the crane removed.

A architectural plan of the proposed development for the site.

She said residents of the street have made previous unsuccessful attempts for regulatory agencies including SafeWork NSW to investigate the structure.

”Because of its height, the crane swings around over other people’s homes and the residents have rightly had a gutful,” Ms Cowell said.

“It’s more than unsightly, it’s become a safety concern but no one seems to want to take responsibility for it.”

CoreLogic property data shows the long-term owner of the site sold the site in April this year to a new buyer for $2.98 million.

The Daily Telegraph contacted a planning consultant who worked on modifications to the redevelopment proposal for comment about the crane but did not receive a response at the time of publication.

A Sutherland Shire Council spokesman said the council was aware of concerns expressed by residents.

“With a development consent still active for this site, council has limited powers to compel the property owner to remove this crane however staff continue to investigate ways to resolve this issue to the satisfaction of all parties,” he said.

“Council staff have engaged extensively with the former owner of this property about building works and activities which have occurred on site and will continue to engage with the current owner to address any further issues as needed.”