and now we wait...again.

Sunday 15th November '09

I took Thursday off work because I needed some time to process what's happened and to try to figure out a solution. I met with my builder to have a look at an alternative block of land in the stage selling next to the one I was buying. The dimensions are slightly different but my house design will still fit on it. However, it needs to have rear garage access. My builder's already drafted up a new design to cater for this change, but there will be additional costs involved for the redesign and for materials.

Then there's the cost of this block of land. It's $6K more than the other block. I spoke to the developer on Thursday. He explained to me the situation, and he then listened to mine. He sounds like he's prepared to take a lower than usual offer on this block, but I need to wait until tomorrow to find out if he's going to accept the offer I made. $10K below asking price.

So you're all wondering what the frack happened?

Basically, there is a gazetted road passing through the strata block in the stage release that I was purchasing in. The developers have to go through various applications and obtain several clearances at different stages in order to finally get to a point where the relevant authorities (I believe the council) will release titles for each property. Well, they went and got all the clearances and proceeded until the last clearance they needed - and the council knocked back their proposed subdivision plans for the land. There is a gazetted road there, and so legally no houses can be built on that land. And the council refuses to 'ungazette' this road. I don't know what the correct terminologies are, but basically the developers have changed part of the road (that is supposed to be there) into a park and blocks of land for residential buildings, but the council won't accept these alterations.

Aargh!!

Anyways...there is nothing the developer can do and there is nothing the buyers can do. Not only did I lose my block, but fifteen other buyers who purchased the other strata blocks, and several green title blocks on the far end of the strata blocks will also lose their blocks of land.

And there is nothing we can do about it.

It's tempting to call up 'Today Tonight' or "A Current Affair" to see if we can mount some pressure on the council to change their minds.

One more night of restless sleep until I find out if my Plan B will work.