By Lucy Waldron
The cost of living has made it increasingly harder to find housing but for one man the struggle for a house stems many years back before the cost of living was around.
Bruce Parsons has an unfortunate story that, like any, has two sides. From his point of view, it is a story of misleading, pain and time wasting but from the councils, it is a story of procedure, systems, and law.
In 2015, Bruce recalls submitting plans to council for him to build a house on his property 10 kilometres outside of Stanthorpe.
These plans sat idle on council’s desk and Bruce became more desperate for a place to live as he was moving to the region.
After six months Bruce decided to take another approach and build a shed on the property, so he pulled his plans from council.
However, he learnt those plans did get approved, but he was never notified.
“Nothing was ever sent to me in person,” Bruce said.
In 2014 the council recalled Bruce lodging a building application for a workshop and upon inspecting the plans, council issued an Information Request as the workshop had the appearance of a dwelling.
“If the proposed structure was intended as a dwelling, as opposed to a workshop, revised plans are required to ensure the relevant Building Code of Australia requirements are met,” a council spokesperson said.
Once Bruce revised his plans for the workshop and applied for a dwelling instead, the council requested more information required by the Building Code of Australia.
This is when Bruce pulled his application completely.
Going with a private building certifier, Bruce built the shed on his property, however, the contractor refused to provide the building plans and conduct the necessary inspections.
Bruce went to a lawyer for assistance, and it took over two years of back and forth before he was given the plans for the shed and construction could be finalised.
During this time, council has not received a building application, nor has a private building certifier submitted an approval for the storage shed. There is also no approval relevant to the property for a dwelling.
Council has also provided advice to Bruce in late 2021 in relation to the steps to be undertaken to obtain the relevant approvals for the structures on his property.
Only a few months ago, council undertook a site inspection with Bruce’s support and consent, a council spokesperson said.
However, given the process has been turmoil for almost 10 years Bruce did not take lightly the council poking around on his property.
“The site inspection was to enable Mr Parsons to show council the two structures on the site and gain advice in relation to obtaining the correct approvals for each structure, which included a barn-style structure and a storage shed.
“Following the site inspection on 3 August 2023, council provided an email summary of the detailed steps required to be undertaken for each structure. Mr Parsons was able to contact council if he had any further questions,” a council spokesperson said.
To this day the process is not over.
To Bruce, this has been an unnecessary process that has cost him his health and many years of pain.
In what was just an attempt to put a roof over his head has turned into countless hours of back and forth between systems, and the Southern Downs Council was doing its part to ensure everything was up to standards, but should it have to be this complicated?
