Sydney couple’s plans to build their dream home is rejected by council who say its in a flood zone

A couple have been left distraught and on the verge of bankruptcy after their plans to build their dream home were quashed by the local council who say their land is in a flood zone. 

Matt and Grace Slade purchased a 60-year-old house in Epping in Sydney‘s north-west with plans to knock it down and rebuild.

They removed the existing property as it was riddled with asbestos and began to knock it down while waiting for their development application for their new home to be approved.

But Parramatta Local Council rejected their application, claiming their block of land was in a flood zone and had a large stormwater pipe within an easement that runs diagonally through the land. 

That’s despite the fact the Slade’s neighbours being allowed to rebuild. 

‘Just the way we’ve been treated with this, there’s no understanding regarding the situation we’re in,’ Mr Slade told A Current Affair. 

He revealed that recently his builder had received an email from a DA officer telling him that the build would be rejected.

‘The DA officer said fairly bluntly that no new dwelling is supported on this block of land and we advise your client to either withdraw, or we will refuse it in five business days,’ Mr Slade said through tears.

The couple are currently paying a mortgage and also paying for a rental property that they’re living in around the corner from their block of land.

It’s put incredible financial strain on their lives as their development plans stay in limbo. 

Mr Slade explained that the family were at ‘breaking point’ and were calling on the council to give them a ‘fair go’. 

A council map shows 60 per cent of the Slades property is in a five per cent annual exceedance (AEP) probability flood extent area.

According to council’s development guidelines, any structure within five per cent AEP is not allowed.