Perth, Western Australia February 10, 2007 Home News Time Out Letters Write a Letter Classifieds Search Real Estate Trades & Services Submit About Contact Us Advertising Legal	'Hired gun' for garage showdown Planning big gun Belinda Moharich has been hired to fight a battle over building on the boundary in Birdwood Parade. Neighbours Warren Arbuckle and Robin Collin are at odds over Mr Arbuckle's plan to build a garage up to their boundary and a parapet wall along it. Nedlands city planners say the plan could be approved if the floor of the garage was lowered 30cm and four courses of bricks taken off the parapet wall. Dr Collin has called in Belinda Moharich, who was principal registrar at the Town Planning Appeal Tribunal and a sessional member of the State Administrative Tribunal, to challenge the plan. She assessed the plan for a 17m long wall 4m high and said: "It is clear the development does not comply with the residential design codes." City planners reported that the plan had been altered and the wall was 11.5m long. Ms Moharich said it would be an imposing sight from Dr Collin's entertainment area and did not comply with the requirement for 60% open space. Planners said the wall was mostly next to a blank wall and storage area. "The proposal will comply with the open-space requirements as it is proposed to remove the roof cover over the pool," council planners reported. Mr Arbuckle told the council the wall would not overshadow the neighbouring property and would screen an air-conditioner. "Our proposed parapet would go a long way in eliminating any noise being generated by this air-conditioning unit at present, and not to mention the eyesore this unit presents." Councillors will consider what to do on Tuesday night. Do you have something to say? Write to us and we may publish your letter next week. BACK TO TOP < PREVIOUS - HOME - NEXT> Copyright © 1999 - 2008 Post Newspapers Pty Ltd. All rights reserved.