Coast resident knocks back body corporate challenge to ‘ugly’ panels

A Gold Coast local has won a battle against his body corporate committee to keep his ‘ugly’ solar panels.

A GOLD COAST man has won his battle to keep “ugly” solar panels on his property, despite complaints about the installation ruining the view from the swimming pool.

Daniel Delid, a resident of the Upper Coomera townhouse complex Catalina Park, had been locked in a dispute with the complex’s Body Corporate since late last year about the $5000 installation on his home.

At the time, representatives for the Body Corporate told the Bulletin that six of the twelve solar panels positioned on the front of Mr Delid’s roof were “absolutely ugly” and “ruined the aesthetics” of the area.

GOLD COAST BODY CORPORATE LEVIES WAIVED

Daniel Delid is a Catalina Park resident who put solar panels on the roof of his house. He has since won the right to keep them, despite concerns from his body corporate. Picture Glenn Hampson

They instead requested the solar panels be moved to the back of his home, arguing the panels broke a bylaw regarding the erection of external structures on the building.

“The body corporate only requested that you relocate your solar panels so that they are not visible from the common property.

“There has been no request to remove them entirely,” the letter to Mr Delid from the Body Corporate said at the time.

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The solar panels however would not work if placed in another area of the roof.

In its final decision released last month, the adjudicator for the Body Corporate Community Management Commission (BCCM) ruled that the committee did not have the power to make such demands.

The adjudicator found Mr Delid sought appropriate permission to install solar panels.

It was found that the committee made no mention that further approval was required regarding where Mr Delid placed the solar panels.

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The Catalina Park body corporate suggested Mr Delid’s solar panels would encourage others to put panels on their homes. Picture Glenn Hampson

“There is no indication that the body corporate had concerns regarding the location of the solar panels,” the decision read.

“In this day and age it is inevitable that various items of utility infrastructure such as solar water heaters and photovoltaic cells will be retrofitted to the exterior of buildings.

“A body corporate cannot withhold consent for installation of a solar hot water system or photovoltaic cells because it might change the external appearance of a lot.”

Mr Delid told the Bulletin he was glad the issue was behind him.

“People need to fight for what is right,” he said.

He had some concern the body corporate would appeal the decision of the BCCM.

“If they wish to appeal that’s fine. I’ll do the same,” he said. “And this time, I will look for legal actions and compensation for my trouble.”