Yet more disappointment

More disappointment for us. The Council decided that although their planning personnel had told us to submit earthworks and retaining wall plans prior to applying for house plan approval, that they wanted the whole package after all i.e. retaining walls, cut and fill levels and house plans all to be submitted as one (thereby wasting 5 months of our time). We weren't happy.

Knowing the trouble we had getting any builders to look at the site once they saw the amount of contour lines on our site plan (more lines than a zebra), we weren't hopeful of finding a builder. We visited Kauley homes and went as far as having them design a custom build to our budget, however we weren't overly satisfied with the finish of their homes and we would have had to upgrade practically all the standard inclusions for them to be acceptable to us.

Knowing our hearts weren't in the Kauley house we then went back to Eden Brae. The saleman at the showhome was so helpful and did lots of changes to the project home plan to make it fit our block, then he worked miracles and managed to persuade his bosses to consider doing those little (ok, huge) modifications to the single level home to make it a split level (and therefore more "site responsive") to meet the Council's requirements. We're just holding our breath for the costings of it all now.

Plans amended

We had disappointing news from the Council that they would not pass our plans unless amended to comply with their regulations on height of retaining walls and amounts of fill. This despite the fact that our neighbour to the rear of the block has a 2.2 metre retaining wall........So back to the engineer to redraw the plans ( for a fee of course) and we resubmitted today.

Our Dreamhouse

This is the showhome at Kellyville that we'd like to build. We've visited so many times they think we've moved in there. Meanwhile still waiting for word from Council.

This is the link to the Eden Brae homes website

http://www.edenbraehomes.com.au/OurHomes/Prestige/Memphis.aspx

Development Application Problems

Due to the slope of the block, (theres a 4.5 metre fall sideways), we can't get any of the project home builders to even consider building on our site unless the site is benched, meaning it needs to be levelled out first. The planner at the local council advised us to put in an application for earthworks and engineered retaining walls prior to applying for house plan approval, so we engaged the services of a structural engineer to draw up plans and submitted them to Council.......and now we wait.

Bought a block on the hill

We fell for this block of land on the brow of a hill with magnificent views to the Blue Mountains. Only problem is it has a very steep sideways slope, but the views will be worth it.