HALLS Head resident Caroline Julian says she is living an “absolute nightmare” at her home in Hungerford Avenue.
She said road works around her home due to an extension of Balmoral Avenue through Hungerford Avenue for a new commercial development were destroying her lifestyle.
Her complaints include five new street lights that shine into her house, a big roundabout, increased kerbing height, dust and noise.
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READ NOWMs Julian says she has no quality of life.
“I have no privacy, no security and no sanity,” she said.
“It’ just a house now, not a home.
“Everything I worked for has disappeared.”
Ms Julian has lived in her home for 18 years since the area was surrounded by bush.
The site opposite was once earmarked for a TAFE college but the plans fell through and it is now the site of proposed residential and commercial development.
Ms Julian said she cannot easily reverse out of her driveway and she wants to know why such a big roundabout was necessary when Hungerford Avenue “is an avenue not a main thoroughfare”.
She reckons her home has been devalued by more than $100,000.
“But there is no decrease in rates,’’ she said.
“Rates are based on rental values but my home is now un-rentable and I cannot sell it.’’
City chief executive Mark Newman said developments on privately owned land in the City would continue as the City continued to grow.
“Unfortunately, from time to time some residents do not agree with the development and thus we have to manage the outcome as best we can,’’ he said.
“In this instance, the approved development may not be welcomed by all.
“It is in its construction phase and from time to time there will be issues arising that need attention.
“The contractor and City staff have tried to be as cooperative as is humanly possible.”
Mr Newman said the development connected to the local road network and all works complied with Australian Standards.
“Public consultation has occurred over quite a period of time and the claim that there was no consultation is comfortably rejected,’’ he said.
“Perhaps the best judgement can be made once the project is completed.”