Landowners of eight properties in Bangalee were recently freed of financial obligations thrust upon them retrospectively by the state government.
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Andrew Bridges and his family were asked to pay $5000 for a biodiversity assessment report and then stump up $56,000 in credits before clearing land on their 4000 square-metre block.
The state government retracted this request on February 25 - after an intervention from Kiama MP Gareth Ward on behalf of Woodridge Estate landowners in the same position, who had been advised correctly by the developer they were able to lodge development applications without having to carry out further environmental studies.
Mr Bridges, who had already paid for the report, was thankful about the outcome, which has saved his family a small fortune.
On Wednesday afternoon his DA which was lodged in July was finally approved by Shoalhaven City Council.
Both our boys were baptised at St Michaels in Nowra, we want to build a family home and be a part of the community
- Bangalee landowner Andrew Bridges
Mr Bridges did not expect to be waiting more than a week for council's approval once he'd been given the nod by the state government.
Council staff met with frustrated landowners in December, January and February to help them proceed with development and Mr Bridges had received notification that all other aspects of his DA were assessed and acceptable.
"It's been a debacle from start to finish," Mr Bridges said.
"After permission from the Office of Environment and Heritage to move forward, council was still saying they needed to assess it to approve it. How did they still need time?"
With another seven DAs poised for approval, about $4 million will be injected into the local economy.
The Bridges will spend about $500,000 on the build, employing a builder from the local area and materials from businesses based in the region as much as possible, such as Tiger Tiles at South Nowra.
"My builder and the four boys he employs have been waiting eight months for the all clear on the job," Mr Bridges said.
"It's been difficult because I've been delaying contractors, and I haven't been able meet anyone in person to do so.
"Some of us are coming close to being charged penalties for overrunning contract times.
"We've been paying rates for 12 months, what have we gained from that?"
READ MORE: Renovators, builders wait on council
For four years, the Bridges who live in Perth have been planning a move back to the Shoalhaven, where Andrew's wife was born.
"Both our boys were baptised at St Michaels in Nowra, we want to build a family home and be a part of the community," Mr Bridges said.
"We want to get back near their grandparents and our extended family while they're still young."
Under normal circumstances, council aims to process DAs within 90 days.
Last Friday, while Mr Bridges was awaiting approval, Shoalhaven Council's planning director Phil Costello, in regular contact with Woodridge Estate landowners, assured the South Coast Register the DAs were of utmost importance.
"In relation to Andrew Bridges’ application, Council staff have been in contact with Mr Bridges and are ensuring that all applications are dealt with as a matter of priority," Mr Costello said.
"Basically this review is to determine if the information currently provided can be amended to meet the previous regime, this includes the concurrence conditions provided by OEH at that time.
"This is still a responsibility on assessing staff to show how the legislative framework is being complied with."
