City Beach cubby house goes to tribunal for council approval

Retrospective approval was sought for the backyard cubby and patio at Talgarth Way after neighbours complained to the Town of Cambridge.

The council recommended the item be approved with four conditions, but owners Steve and Fiona Hick appealed the decision because they believed it should have been approved unconditionally.

At a State Administrative Tribunal directions hearing, the applicants were ordered to submit revised plans for the cubby house and patio but despite a committee recommendation to approve the applicant’s amended retrospective approval, the council instead voted not to approve the plans at its May 26 council meeting.

Councillor Rod Bradley’s amendment said the council was not prepared to approve the plans and specified that the cubby should be set back at least 1m from the rear fence and dramatically reduced in height, among a number of other conditions.

Cr Bradley said the amendment would “put the ball back in the applicant’s court”.

Cr Corinne MacRae said she did not want to see the item back at the SAT.

“I don’t believe a cubby house requires council approval, but I can put that idea aside,” she said.