Developers of a Kembla Street apartment complex have asked Wollongong City Council’s permission to increase the building’s height, build a load-bearing wall, replace one wall with windows and establish a roof top garden to attract native bees.
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The problem is – bee garden aside – these elements have already been constructed.
Proponents of the development at 19-21 Kembla Street, which has been in the planning works since 2010 and is all but ready for residents to move in, recently lodged a request to modify the approved plans.
In a letter included with the application, the project’s Queensland-based builder Anthony Salera, of Tier One Construction Group, has explained why he constructed a number of unauthorised works.
Mr Salera wrote to planning consultant Terry Wetherall, who lodged the request, to say “I need you to get this across the line” as he hoped to apply for an occupation certificate for the building in a matter of weeks.
The builder said an “increase in overall building height” was needed as it was his opinion the complex would not have complied with the Building Code of Australia if constructed according to the approved plans.
Mr Salera’s letter also noted he had been accused of being “a greedy developer that thinks I am above the law” for building the unapproved parts of the complex.
“This comment could not be further from the truth,” he said.
“Firstly I am not the developer. I am simply a builder that prides himself on creating projects that not only work but stand the test of time.”
He said he had gone “well over budget at the detriment to my own profit margin” and was proud of the resulting building.
Mr Wetherall told the council the unauthorised changes should be allowed, as the complex will “remain substantially the same as the development that was originally approved”. Despite extra height, he said the building did not exceed the maximum limit of 24 metres.
In addition to the unapproved modifications, the builder has asked permission to install a roof top solar area and bee garden.
Explaining this, Mr Salera said he would like to be a “pioneer” of environmentally friendly roof top gardens.
“I have been researching how high-rise buildings impact on our environment and have been investigating innovative designs in both Europe and America that explore green rooftops in our cities,” he said.