Documented plans were submitted to Federation Council in December, just weeks after the Corowa, Howlong and Mulwala Flood Study was adopted.
“I was looking forward to building our family home here – our first and only home,” said the father, who did not wish to be named.
“Now we have to find alternate living arrangements.”
He said he knew four more families who were planning to build on land near to his who have also been affected by the changes.
The Mulwala resident was expecting to have his plans for his family’s dream home approved by Federation Council but with new height requirements, the slab will now need to be built one metre above the ground level.
“That’s an extra $50,000 on the slab alone,” he said.
“Our dream for our first, new home has been crushed and more; it’s all come out of nowhere and put a halt to what’s already been a long, drawn-out process.
That additional cost of laying the raised slab, together with additional surveying and other associated outlays would set the family back another $100,000 plus.
Another Mulwala resident, building a new home with construction well advanced, is also concerned about the new building requirements.
“My biggest fear is rising insurance costs,” he said.
“Our land values have gone down; our rates are going up and I’m particularly worried about insurance costs going up because of all these new requirements.”
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