Dim view of neighbours

UPPER Beaconsfield resident Nola Gregson has attacked planning laws that allowed her neighbour to build a house that will tower above her home at Beaconsfield Emerald Road.
Ms Gregson said the home being built close to her boundary initially included a large water tank visible from her living area.
“We fought to have the tank shifted but this house will remain to completely cut the sunlight from our kitchen and living area.
“People in that house will seriously overlook our living area.
“Regulations allow for buildings here to be seven metres high but they have been permitted to build to nine metres.
“The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) has allowed this to our disadvantage.
“Our sunlight will be completely cut by this house when it could easily have been built on a better location for that block.
“We will lose our privacy.
“Cardinia council and VCAT have shown no consideration for our rights.
“They are concerned only about how it will look from the street,” she said.
A council spokesperson said people could apply to build under the State Government regulations.
The spokesperson said the council often became the ‘meat in the sandwich’ because provided the applicant complied with the regulations the building would ultimately be approved.
“Even if the council refuses the application the applicant can go to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) and have it approved.
“Council planners can make suggestions to applicants on where best to place a building, but if the applicant disagrees the suggestions can be ignored.”