31 January 2011

OMG so frustrated with LMCC. I want to track and seriously maim the pedantic bureaucrat handling our DA! Last time I posted we were looking at having to address the gum tree next door. We'd been so pre-occupied with whether the Norfolk Pines on our block were going to be an issue we overlooked the gargantuan proportions of the gum tree next door!

We had a chat with the neighbours who own the gum tree (No.8) and asked them how they felt about it being chopped down. Felt a bit guilty as at the same time we were fending off the neighbours on the other side (No. 4) who want to get rid of our two substantial Norfolk Pines. No.8 ended up agreeing it would be best for all concerned for the gum to go as it was also located over a sewer main and they have plans to build a large shed and a pool in the next couple of years anyway.

As per LMCC directive we hired an Arborist who said there were 2 options - chop it down or keep it and build around it with special foundations etc. Guess what the council preferred? Plus council required full detail of the slab construction together with a further report from the arborist saying he agrees to the construction details. As we understand it, this type of detail isn't really required at DA stage but we are beholden to the almighty bureaucrat :(

The main concern with council delays is losing our builder to other projects. He has already checked with us whether he could take another 6 week project which we agreed with, and just as well we did! Four weeks left on that project and we are looking pretty doubtful to be ready to start, given engineering and private certification of the construction certificate still remains to be done.

At this stage we are planning to get the DA under the current scenario while the neighbours lodge a DA for removal of the tree. If they are successful (they've been told they won't be) then we'll amend the DA. The irritating thing is that we will pussy foot around to build around the tree, then in a couple of years when the neighbours want to build the shed/pool it will be removed at presumably great risk to our roof, which by that stage will already have some almighty dings in it from branch fallout!

On a positive front, we are absolutely loving living in Redhead, the neighbours are all really friendly, so it looks like we've made the right decision. The other positive is that presumably our Norfolk Pines are fairly safe - No.4 couldn't get rid of them even if we agreed to it :) :) :) Gosh I'm a hypocrite!

29 November 2010

Our DA was submitted to Lake Macquarie Council in early October and we are still waiting for approval. The plans have been referred to the Rural Fire Service which is standard for a bush fire prone property. Apparently we might need to get an aborist to do a report on the effect the development will have on the neighbours gum tree (i.e. will it die if we hack a few major branches off).

The other exciting news is that we moved into the house this week, somehow managing to cull enough stuff to squeeze in! It feels like a holiday every day which is great. Don't really feel all that motivated to go to work though :( The kids drove us absolutely crazy with the move and spend most of their waking hours asking where things are now located etc etc. I guess things will settle down over the coming weeks.

It looks like we might have found our builder, who we met with tonight. He can start in early February - that is if we have the all clear from Council by then! Here's hoping his referees back him up..

After a brief battle of wills with Mike, I hired a landscape designer [Cliff] a couple of months ago as I really don't know what I'm doing with this block of sand. I'm used to clay soil back in Adamstown. True to form Cliff is taking forever to come up with something. The architects took 5 weeks to create a house but the landscape designer is up to about 9 weeks and produced zero. Oh well. Have worked with him before and he is worth waiting for.

Also have our former interior designer staff member [Mel] on the job. She visited the house again on Friday and will be helping decide all sorts of stuff. This is the design brief I gave Mel:

External
Retaining wall to backyard – material and colour
External existing house colour/material if bricks removed / extension colorbond cladding colour / windows/doors to extension and existing/roof/guttering
Fencing material/colour [have asked Cliff to look at this but will run past you]
Front porch railing/flooring (stairs to be removed and come out from door – think Cliff was doing something a bit interesting so not coming straight out but will run past you when I finally hear from him!]
Front path/driveway materials/colours [have asked Cliff to look at this but will run past you]

Internal
Flooring – polished concrete colour/aggregate etc / timber flooring
Paint colours
Kitchen cabinetry etc
Bathrooms – kids/ensuite/powder
Laundry tiles/cabinetry/floor
WIR cabinetry
Feature lighting (most will be downlights)
Built in cabinetry for TV / ecosmart fire
Blinds
Curtains


Anyway, keeping a few people busy!