Georges River Council has issued a public reminder about its land use policies, after a local landowner was recently convicted and fined $70,000 over the unlawful construction of a secondary dwelling.
The Council said its land use policies were in place to ensure the area is well-designed, sustainable, and meets the needs of current and future residents.
“The built environment is crucial to the Georges River community’s identity and character. It includes residential buildings, town centres, commercial and industrial buildings, and public spaces,” the Council said in a statement.
Recently, a landowner in Oatley was convicted in the Local Court for offences under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (the Act) for offences involved in the unlawful secondary dwelling build.
The Council says a development application was initially approved for a boat shed on the landowner’s property.
“However, the landowner constructed a habitable building instead, which extended onto public land owned by Crown Lands, a clear violation of the Act.”
“Ensuring compliance with our environmental and planning regulations is critical to maintaining the integrity and character of our community,” said David Tuxford, General Manager at Georges River Council.
“We take these violations seriously and will continue to enforce measures to protect our built environment by making sure development occurs in accordance with issued approvals.”
Those considering adding a swimming pool, renovating their home, building a new granny flat, or seeking planning advice for a large development are encouraged to start with the Development Advisory Service (DAS), the Council said. The specialised team provides a range of planning and development advice for both residents and building professionals.
For more information, visit the Development Advisory Service page on Council’s website.
