An 11-metre tall fence is at the centre of an ugly neighbourhood feud after it was constructed during Sydney’s Covid-19 lockdown without council approval.
The eyesore was erected around the back yard of a Chester Hill home, in Sydney’s west.
Angry residents of the quiet street told Daily Mail Australia the monstrous structure appeared suddenly in July – without any warning or council consultation.
They claim their subsequent complaints to the homeowner and Cumberland Council about the height of the fence have not been responded to.
‘It blocks the sun, we don’t really get sun any more,’ a local resident said.
‘I’m very stressed, I like my flowers and the view, with the trees before it was nice but now it’s very bad.’
Neighbours watched in horror as a family erected an 11-metre wall and casted their backyards into darkness during Sydney’s latest lockdown
The wall was built in July and surrounds the backyard of the Chester Hill home in Sydney’s west
Neighbours say they’ve contacted Northumberland Council over the wall but have had no help from local MPs
Neighbours said three large pine trees stood in the place of the wall dividing the neighbour’s yard for years until they were suddenly chopped down, a month after Sydney’s lockdown began.
Tradesmen were then seen arriving to construct the giant L-shaped wall.
‘They just told us they were building it. When they put the walls up we said it looked big but they ignored us,’ a concerned neighbour said.
‘They chopped down those massive trees, they put it up in one week.’
Witnesses say they had tradies working on the wall around the clock during lockdown to erect the ‘hideous’ wall.
Earlier images show the large Christmas trees that were cut down to make way for the wall
Images show construction of the wall taking place in July this year as the 11-metre monstrosity begins to take shape
Large black boards are then installed to complete the wall which is now casting shadows across a number of backyards in Chester Hill
The two walls block out a series of townhouses at the back of the home as well as another house on the side, framing the house’s backyard.
The front side of the wall has been decorated with wood panelling and painted with Aboriginal artwork.
The other side is a black monstrosity with loose nails and wiring that has cast surrounding properties into darkness.
‘It blocks the sun, we don’t really get sun any more,’ a local resident told Daily Mail Australia.
‘Everyone on the street has complained. They didn’t ask any of us.
‘The council also have been horrible. We want to know what they’re going to do about this.’
A neighbour looks out his back door at the 11-metre wall that is perched over his fence
Other angles give perspective of the hideous divider blocking the views of homes surrounding it – a development that was not blocked by local council
A cat perches up on the fence overlooking the 11-metre unfinished wall lined with loose nails and wiring
Several neighbours told Daily Mail Australia they have lodged complaints with Cumberland Council over the wall.
In a statement the council confirmed they are taking ‘enforcement action’ against the wall and the family who built it.
‘Council has received and acknowledged complaints regarding an alleged unauthorised structure at the subject property,’ Cumberland Council said.
‘These complaints have been investigated and enforcement action has been taken, with specified timeframes provided for compliance.
‘Council has provided updates to the complainants where contact details have been provided.
‘Any complainants who require a update of the action taken may contact Council and further information will be provided.’
The occupants of the house did not respond to requests for comment.
Source: DailyMail