Thanks Whale and Austman much appreciated the input … am still waiting on OC to respond to my DA request –
Austman – it’s interesting that a DA was accepted by the Council without the OC Seal ….It is the case in NSW as well that you have a distinction between a DA and a building permit however on approaching the duty Town Planner at this Council they indicated that a Seal was required before accepting submission of the DA I might revisit this based on your experience.
Whale to answer your question our individual OC has an overarching Community Management Executive (CME) and Plan that it must adhere to ..after ten years approx the CME have decided to change the procedures with respect to screen enclosures ( why no one knows ) and now require a DA to Council.
In regards to the Architectural and Landscape Standards they are an annexure of the Community Management Plan as administered by the CME.The issue is they are not consistently applied throughout the estate – eg pot plants !
In frustration i have removed our bright coloured umbrella and replaced it with a white blind which is held up to our pergola by string ..as a temporary measure again I was emailed by the strata manager telling me I must remove this immediately as it requires permission from the OC.
My own research notes that Section 5 – Damage to Common Property that you cannot deface, mark, screw nail etc onto common property but this does not preclude an owner installing a screen to protect children from harm — it is my understanding that as the temporary shade fits with the colour scheme of the A & L standards, is not damaging common property and is required for UV protection then it is OK while i await further advice re our Shutters.
And yes Whale this is the type of nonsense that scares people away from Strata Schemes – for me our OC has lot all credibility and given the circumstances am under no allusion that this matter will have to be resolved by an adjudicator at some point , pity is that there actions has damaged irretrievably my previous strong sense of community.