Couple up in arms after ‘council backflips’ over pole in the middle of their driveway

A Brisbane family has been stuck in a year-long bureaucratic battle with the council over an inconvenient feature of their new home.

A family caught in a year-long bureaucratic battle over a slanted power pole in their driveway has been left thousands of dollars out-of-pocket and even worse off than before.

When the property of Jodi and Rod Klerks in Birkdale, southeast of Brisbane, was subdivided, they claimed Redland City Council agreed a 30-year-old power pole would be shifted from their driveway by developers.

The council has since backflipped on its earlier commitment, according to the couple, because local energy company Energex deemed the pole safe to remain in the inconvenient position.

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The couple has been in a year-long battle to have the pole moved. Picture: Nine

The power pole is a huge headache for the family. Picture: Nine

That was despite the 6m-high structure’s notable slant and Ms Klerks complaining the pole moved in the wind.

“We do have safety concerns because there has been movement of that power pole,” Ms Klerks told Nine News.

According to the council, the responsibility of relocating the pole fell solely on the developer, but the company responsible for the subdivision development has remained deafeningly silent.

Eager to settle into their new home, the couple decided to lay a driveway to the right of the power pole.

They soon realised however there was another piece of infrastructure in their way – an old water metre that had been left by the developer in the middle of their front yard.

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Jodi (pictured) and Rod Klerk want the power pole in their front yard gone. Picture: Nine

The couple wants the pole to be moved. Picture: Nine

The couple reluctantly forked out $90 to the council to have the front yard surveyed, then $3000 to have the water metre shifted four metres.

“We had to get the council to move it so we could have a driveway,” Ms Klerks told Courier Mail.

They have since been pleading with the council to help with reimbursement from the developer, which typically absorbed costs associated with shifting existing water and energy infrastructure.

Energy company denies any responsibility

An Energex spokesperson confirmed it was the responsibility of developers to arrange and pay for relocation of existing infrastructure if it was required.

They added Energex was not “engaged to undertake such works for this address”.

“Energex has a robust inspection and maintenance program, which includes the regular inspection and replacement of power poles as necessary,” the spokesperson told news.com.au.

“An Energex representative did a visual inspection of the pole last week and found no defects warranting replacement of the pole at this time. Unfortunately, in this case it is not an easy solution to move the pole, as it also connects other properties in the street and therefore would impact neighbours.”

Council points finger at Energex and purchasers

Redland City Council said the power pole in question was the responsibility of Energex, which in May 2020 inspected the pole and deemed its relocation “not desirable”.

The council claimed Energex said moving the power pole would “impact on the connection to two properties on the other side of the road, and would cause the overhead connections to cross the boundary”.

“Council is required to accept this advice,” a spokesperson told news.com.au.

“Council’s function is to ensure that a driveway can still be installed. In this situation, with a 12 metre wide frontage and the power pole located approximately in the middle, a standard three metre driveway could fit either side of the pole.

“There is space available for a driveway and access to the lot on the other side of the power pole, which would have avoided the need to relocate the water meter.”

The spokesperson added that it was up to the purchaser of a property to “take into account all the constraints of the lot and the frontage – including poles, trees and other services including water meters – when purchasing, and the subsequent building design should take the access constraints into account.”

“Council regularly receives requests from residents to relocate their water meters, and the cost of that relocation is borne by the resident.”