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A luxury construction farce as work on a couple’s dream home shuts down after the Dream World CEO’s neighbor erects a second story just 16 inches from their wall, making it impossible for scaffolding to be brought in
- Two Gold Coast properties have been built 40cm apart
- One of the houses cannot be completed due to the gap
- The couple Kathy Morin and Devon Matsalla filed a complaint
An investigation was launched into how two luxury homes were built just 40cm apart, and a couple feared their dream home would never be finished.
Canadian expats Kathy Morin and Devon Matsalla are building a waterfront home in Coomera Waters on Queensland’s Gold Coast.
But construction has been stalled for the past month due to a dispute over the small gap between his house and the top floor of the neighboring property owned by Dreamworld CEO Greg Yong.
Builders say they cannot safely install scaffolding between the two properties, casting doubt on the completion date for the Canadian couple’s home.
The couple said they were “shocked, very confused” and “heartbroken” after discovering their house plans were in tatters.
Gold Coast City Council have launched an investigation into how two waterfront homes were built just 40 centimeters apart
‘It’s a dream we’ve been planning for years, we’re so close. But then this problem rears its ugly head at him in our way,” Mr Matsalla said. a current affair.
Ms Morin added: “If they were (just a matter of) a couple of centimeters, we wouldn’t be having this conversation, but it prevents us from building our house.”
‘That’s big…it’s not aesthetic.’
The couple have filed a complaint with the Gold Coast City Council, which has now launched an investigation.
Council regulations allow property owners to build to the edge of the southern perimeter of their boundary.
Canadian couple Kathy Morin and Devon Matsalla (both pictured) left ‘shocked’ and ‘heartbroken’ after their dream home was put on hold due to the narrow gap.
But house designs are supposed to leave a 2.5m gap at the north edge of the plots, unless special permission is given from the council.
The outstanding design of Mr. Yong’s house means that its second floor is just 40 cm from its northern perimeter and within easy reach of the Canadian couple’s house under construction.
A day after the two neighbors met to try to resolve the problem, the theme park’s chief executive architects submitted a “minor change request” to the council.
Mr. Yong says that the development plans for his property have been approved by the local council.
Dreamworld CEO Greg Yong (pictured) says he was given advance approval by the local council for his development plans.
It is what was approved. We wouldn’t have been able to build it or move in if it wasn’t certified,” he said.
Ms Morin said both she and the couple’s builder have “no idea” how Mr Yong’s plans were approved.
It’s not clear why the problem wasn’t noticed until the couple’s framework was built.
Mr. Yong says he is willing to temporarily remove the wooden slats on the top floor of his house so that scaffolding can be built.
He said the builders of both properties had already discussed the issue.
However, the Canadian couple’s builder denied this, saying that Mr. Matsalla and Ms. Morin would face additional costs, including installing a firewall due to their proximity to their neighbours.
Gold Council confirmed to Daily Mail Australia that they were looking into the issue and gave Yong until the end of February to respond.