South Melbourne woman ordered to replace clear windows at Thomson St home

An innocent decision to use clear glass in her kitchen windows has landed a South Melbourne woman before the state’s planning tribunal.

A South Melbourne woman has been told to frost her windows for the sake of her neighbour’s privacy.

A South Melbourne woman’s hopes of having a better outdoor view while she cooks have gone out the window.

Marita Tanousis called on the state’s planning tribunal to allow her to install clear glass in three kitchen windows at her Thomson St home — after they had been installed.

But VCAT blocked her bid for unfettered views, saying the transparent windows created a “highly compromised privacy arrangement” for Dr Tanousis’ neighbours.

The original planning permit issued 20 years ago by Port Phillip Council required the three west-facing kitchen windows be fully opaque.

Since buying the property four years ago, Dr Tanousis has replaced them with clear glass panes.

An amended permit — approved after the windows had been replaced — allows for the windows to be only partially frosted to 1.7m above floor level.

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Neighbour Nanette Lord told the tribunal the windows looked on to her balcony, which she used frequently.

VCAT member Philip Martin said his visit to the site revealed Dr Tanousis’ kitchen windows had “highly exposed views” into Ms Lord’s property.

“Having clear glass is a better internal amenity outcome … (but) this living area already features other fairly generous glazed outlooks,” she said.

“It’s not as if having a nice outdoor view while you whip up your next meal in the kitchen is seen by the community as being an essential aspect of any one kitchen.

“I am very concerned that the current clear glass arrangement for the three contentious windows allows what I regard as a highly compromised privacy arrangement,” he said.

Mr Martin ruled the council’s permit conditions be upheld and opaque glass installed.