| Under most State planning laws, locals Councils are | | | | about your home extension plans before the plans |
| required to notify neighbours and owners of other | | | | are finalised and lodged to Council. It may be that |
| nearby properties that may be impacted by the | | | | your neighbours have no concerns, or many |
| construction of your home addition. These owners | | | | concerns. Try to think about it from their |
| are given a certain period of time, call the Notification | | | | perspective. If you do not know your neighbour, or |
| Period, in which to lodge any objection to the plans | | | | even if you have had a negative history, talking |
| that have been lodged with the Development | | | | about it at this point at the very least gets you |
| Application. | | | | forewarned. |
| Objections can range from worries about the | | | | 2. Compromise – Where possible, find a |
| construction process (noise, traffic, etc), concerns | | | | compromise solution that meets your neighbours |
| about loss of privacy, loss of views, overshadowing, | | | | concerns without negatively impacting on your own |
| etc. Councils may have objections of their own – | | | | needs. If privacy issues are justified, consider adding |
| these are not dealt with here. | | | | privacy screens. Explain to your neighbour what you |
| Delays due to objections, whether upheld or not, can | | | | are doing. It may not meet their full demands, but |
| be time consuming and costly. It is important | | | | your neighbour will appreciate your efforts to meet |
| therefore to be proactive with your neighbours – | | | | their requirements and it may prevent them |
| communicate your intentions to them, look at it from | | | | objecting. |
| their point of view and be prepared to modify your | | | | 3. Contend – When your DA submission is being |
| design before lodgement where their concerns are | | | | prepared, note all of the compromises you have |
| reasonable. Being proactive in addressing neighbour | | | | made to address potential neighbour concerns. If you |
| concerns before they are notified of your | | | | are expecting your neighbours to complain, have a |
| Development Application by Council can save a great | | | | strategy already in place to deal with the problem. |
| deal of time in having your plans approved. There are | | | | Involving experts in the process can often avoid |
| 3 main aspects to consider here. | | | | many of the hassles and costs involved in dealing |
| 1. Communicate – Sound out your neighbours | | | | with neighbour objections. |