Save our Solar
Donation protected
On 20th July 2014 I purchased a corner block of land from developer Oxmar Properties.
I built my dream home and moved in on 29 May 2015.
In December 2016 I investigated the installation of Solar Panels to assist with running costs of cooling the house, having to shut it up due to health issues from the earth moving being carried out directly around me.
After receiving quotes and indications of where they were to be installed, which was north facing in order to get the most sun throughout the day. They were installed on the 17th January 2017, under the watchful eye of the developer in the office directly opposite my house. When the installation was complete, I received a call from him telling me to move them to the south side of the roof which I refused to do, as the benefit and purpose of the panels would be lost.
It was brought to my attention that the Building Act 1975 had been amended in 2010 with the amendment aimed at stopping body corporates and developers from imposing restrictions on the installation of solar hot water systems and photovoltaic (otherwise known as 'solar' ) cells.
Oxmar Properties took me to the Supreme Court and I won. Oxmar Properties appealed the decision and they won.
I was ordered to remove the panels and pay the developers court costs of $130,000.
I have had no assistance from the Queensland Labour Government or Hon Mick de Brenni, the Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen. After bringing this matter (and in particular the court proceedings that had been brought against me) to his attention by Petition to Government tabled on 15 February 2018, Mr de Brenni confirmed that he was aware of the proceedings in the Supreme Court and that he had instructed his department “to monitor the outcome of the court proceedings and to review the legislation to ensure it meets the policy objectives of the Government”. Despite this, the legislation was not amended to remove any question about how it was intended to operate, and as a result of the developer being successful on appeal I am faced with the prospect of selling my house to pay the developers costs. Mr de Brenni’s comments since this latest development do nothing to explain why nothing has been done to assist me or to amend the legislation to ensure what has happened to me does not happen to anyone else, with his statement on the issue being only:
"All Queenslanders should have the ability to reasonably install roof top solar."
"I have instructed my department to provide advice on options to assist households in accessing the benefits of renewable energy, battery storage and electrical vehicle charging."
https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/work-of-assembly/petitions/petition-details?id=2842
There are approximately 63 housing estates developed by Oxmar Properties and I am aware of other homeowners who are being issued with demands to relocate their solar panels. It has to stop and that’s why I fought this.
https://9now.nine.com.au/a-current-affair/aussie-woman-faces-losing-home-over-solar-panels-after-supreme-court-appeal/231025ef-5213-4ea5-9[phone redacted]eed74645
https://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/moreton/developer-threatens-legal-action-over-installation-of-panels-on-home-roof/news-story/d1d6861fa952c77dd5aa5ad3402291fe
https://www.facebook.com/ACurrentAffair9/videos/1490792064360499/?t=2
I built my dream home and moved in on 29 May 2015.
In December 2016 I investigated the installation of Solar Panels to assist with running costs of cooling the house, having to shut it up due to health issues from the earth moving being carried out directly around me.
After receiving quotes and indications of where they were to be installed, which was north facing in order to get the most sun throughout the day. They were installed on the 17th January 2017, under the watchful eye of the developer in the office directly opposite my house. When the installation was complete, I received a call from him telling me to move them to the south side of the roof which I refused to do, as the benefit and purpose of the panels would be lost.
It was brought to my attention that the Building Act 1975 had been amended in 2010 with the amendment aimed at stopping body corporates and developers from imposing restrictions on the installation of solar hot water systems and photovoltaic (otherwise known as 'solar' ) cells.
Oxmar Properties took me to the Supreme Court and I won. Oxmar Properties appealed the decision and they won.
I was ordered to remove the panels and pay the developers court costs of $130,000.
I have had no assistance from the Queensland Labour Government or Hon Mick de Brenni, the Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen. After bringing this matter (and in particular the court proceedings that had been brought against me) to his attention by Petition to Government tabled on 15 February 2018, Mr de Brenni confirmed that he was aware of the proceedings in the Supreme Court and that he had instructed his department “to monitor the outcome of the court proceedings and to review the legislation to ensure it meets the policy objectives of the Government”. Despite this, the legislation was not amended to remove any question about how it was intended to operate, and as a result of the developer being successful on appeal I am faced with the prospect of selling my house to pay the developers costs. Mr de Brenni’s comments since this latest development do nothing to explain why nothing has been done to assist me or to amend the legislation to ensure what has happened to me does not happen to anyone else, with his statement on the issue being only:
"All Queenslanders should have the ability to reasonably install roof top solar."
"I have instructed my department to provide advice on options to assist households in accessing the benefits of renewable energy, battery storage and electrical vehicle charging."
https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/work-of-assembly/petitions/petition-details?id=2842
There are approximately 63 housing estates developed by Oxmar Properties and I am aware of other homeowners who are being issued with demands to relocate their solar panels. It has to stop and that’s why I fought this.
https://9now.nine.com.au/a-current-affair/aussie-woman-faces-losing-home-over-solar-panels-after-supreme-court-appeal/231025ef-5213-4ea5-9[phone redacted]eed74645
https://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/moreton/developer-threatens-legal-action-over-installation-of-panels-on-home-roof/news-story/d1d6861fa952c77dd5aa5ad3402291fe
https://www.facebook.com/ACurrentAffair9/videos/1490792064360499/?t=2
Organizer
Pauline Tyler
Organizer
Griffin, QLD