Queensland homeowner forced to ‘shave’ 1.5metres off their luxury home after neighbour wins fight over tiny 40cm gap between them

A family has been forced to ‘shave’ 1.5 meters off their newly built luxury home after a neighbor won a battle over the 40cm gap between the two houses.

Work on Canadian expats Kathy Morin and Devon Matsalla’s water house at Coomera Waters on Queensland’s Gold Coast was disrupted by the dispute last January.

The small gap between their home and the top floor of the neighboring recently built property, owned by Dreamworld CEO Greg Yong and his wife Tanya, meant builders could not install scaffolding to help finish the home. cloud.

But an investigation by Gold Coast City Council found Yong’s building plans ‘were in clear breach of a setback requirement’, A current issue reported.

The Yongs had previously said they thought their plans had been approved, but since the council’s finding, the company behind the Yong’s home submitted a ‘minor variation application’ seeking retrospective approval.

Work on Canadian expats Kathy Morin and Devon Matsalla’s (pictured) waterfront home at Coomera Waters on Queensland’s Gold Coast was halted by the dispute last January.

That ‘small change’ was anything but small – it meant a massive 1.5m had to be cut from Yong’s house and they were given six months to do it.

The extensive and expensive renovation has begun, to the delight of Mrs. Morin and Mr. Matsalla.

‘Finally justice was done. We had waited so long and been so stressed,” Ms Morin said.

Mr Matsalla is keen to ensure good relations with his neighbours, however, saying “They have followed the council’s orders”.

“So we’re actually very pleased and thank those who did the work and followed the rules.”

Ms Morin welcomed the council’s finding in their favour, saying it “shows there is a policing mechanism at the end of the day”.

Her husband hoped that their success would help others who find themselves in similar difficult situations.

“I hope other people will be inspired by our case. And for those certifiers and builders out there, we hope they’re inspired to follow the rules,’ he said.

The happy couple hope to finally finish their forever home and move in early next year.

A family has been forced to ‘shave’ 1.5 meters off their newly built luxury home after a neighbor won a battle over the 40cm gap (pictured) between the two houses.