Dear Sutherland Shire Council,
The owners of 21-23 Pacific Crescent Maianbar NSW 2230 took down the privacy screen to the South on the upper balcony without Council permission on 11 December 2023 and this was only replaced on 18 December 2023 after my husband advised their Site Manager that we wanted the privacy screen back ASAP. Their Site Manager advised us that David King "hates the privacy screens and wants to remove them" and that "the camera crew do not want the privacy screens in their photo shots". I do not consider these adequate grounds for the removal of the screens - the King's architect chose the screens and the Kings approved these plans before they were installed.
During the days the screen was removed, the King Furniture owners held a catalogue photo shoot on their balcony and on the beach with what appeared to be about 20 crew (photographers, model etc). This was dangerous as there were many people moving about on their balcony with camera equipment, which is more than 6 metres above ground level and would have resulted in serious injuries had anyone fallen from the balcony. My husband and I were subjected to large professional camera lights flashing in our kitchen window (we have an open plan home so our dining area and lounge room were also disturbed by the constant flashes of light). These flashes occurred repeatedly between 5am and 9pm (16 hours per day) for three consecutive days.
On another day that week, the crew assembled outdoor furniture on the beach and took photographs. This residential building is clearly being used for commercial purposes. We have photographs of the removed privacy screens and the furniture shoot they held on the beach we can provide if wanted (I cannot see a way to upload these into this comment).
The Kings had another catalogue photo shoot after the one in December, but because the privacy screens were in place at the time, the lights from their commercial cameras were not flashing straight into our kitchen/ dining/ living area, so disruption was much lesser than it was when they held the previous photo shoot with the privacy screens removed.
I am concerned and alarmed that David and Sonia King are seeking to amend the development of their building again and have applied to remove the privacy screens mounted on their third floor balcony (to the North and south). These privacy screens were a requirement of Council to protect the privacy of the small houses nearby from this large, multi-storey and imposing 430 square metre house. If the higher of the two privacy screens is removed as per this application, the Kings and their guests will be able to see into our bedroom when the door is open. This is deeply concerning and feels like an invasion of our privacy.
For three years we had the King's builders staring into our kitchen (including waving to us in the morning) six days a week from 7am to sometimes as late as 7pm in the evening. We breathed a sigh of relief when the privacy screens were erected. To hear that the Kings are planning to remove them is causing my husband and I anxiety and distress.
The development entailed a number of amendments throughout its construction and we have not raised any previous objection. However, I wish to strenuously object to the removal of the privacy screens.
Lisa James.
