Thursday 27 February 2014

In solidarity & empathy





In solidarity & empathy for our fellow human beings who are denied their fundamental human rights & equality of rights before the law, both here in Australia & around the world; & particularly our brothers & sisters facing draconian times, persecution, imprisonment & death, in Uganda, Russia, India, Papua New Guinea & elsewhere.

At this time of the 36th Annual Sydney Mardi Gras festival, it’s pertinent to understand that behind the satire, glitz & glamour of the Mardi Gras, it remains at its core, a civil justice demonstration & a movement for equal human rights & law reform.  Happy Mardi Gras!

Mark & Pete.



Wednesday 26 February 2014

Timeline of significant events from 4 May 2013 to 3 March 2014



Timeline of significant events from 4 May 2013 to 3 March 2014, inclusively.

May 2013

04/05/2013:    Saw Scott Cam’s McDonald Jones Homes TV Commercial (very interesting).

04/05/2013:    We’re impressed & captivated by McDonald Jones Homes’ (MJH) website.

06/05/2013:    My initial E-mail enquiry to McDonald Jones Homes (MJH).

07/05/2013:    Initial E-mail response & attached price lists received from MJH.

19/05/2013:    Our first visit to MJH display homes at Homeworld, Kellyville, NSW (very impressed).

28/05/2013:    Informal meeting with ANZ Bank for our new mortgage for new home – no problems.


June 2013

15/06/2013:    Initial meeting with Max at MJH, Oran Park, & viewed more MJH display homes. 
                     Very impressed with Max’s friendliness, honesty & professionalism.
                     Loved the display homes.

21/06/2013:    Received written provisional loan approval from ANZ Bank (all systems go!).

25/06/2013:    Soil sample testing for the rebuild done by MJH’s contractor (in very poor weather).

30/06/2013:    End of Financial Year.  Meeting with Max at MJH Oran Park.

·         Signed Preliminary Agreement & paid $3,000.00 deposit on Douglas Chase façade.

·         We qualified for End of Financial Year free upgrade package, namely, the ‘Impressions’ package (this package usually costs $4,990.00 & only applicable for the ‘Next Gen’ collection of homes).

·         In addition, MJH have offered us free SMEG kitchen appliances (electric oven, gas cooktop, ducted rangehood, microwave oven & dishwasher).

·         We are very grateful & thrilled to pieces with the free Impressions package & free SMEG appliances.

·         However, I’m now concerned about a number of negative posts and criticisms about the current day standards and quality of [Italian] SMEG appliances that I’ve researched on various customer forums on the Internet.  If they’re correct, it seems that SMEG has plummeted downhill over the past 10 years or so.  I’m really hoping we don’t get stuck with costly lemons.  I remember years ago SMEG used to be top-of-the-range appliances & everybody wanted SMEG (fingers crossed).

August 2013

12/08/2013:    9:30 a.m. Colours Selection meeting at MJH, My Choice Studios, Baulkham Hills.  Very long meeting finished at 1:30 p.m.  View separate posting regarding our choices & selections.  It seems so long ago now, I really hope we made the right selections.

16/08/2013:    Signed Variation to Contract Approval for the additional costs for my requests for double-glazed windows throughout most of the new home.  We have very loud, noisy neighbours & I wanted double-glazing for its additional thermal & sound insulation properties.  The costs for the double-glazing appeared to be very reasonable.

21/08/2013:    2 x qualified arborists assessed trees/shrubs for felling.  Both arborists concurred that there is no need to apply for Council’s permission to fell the large dead trees at the back of our property.

24/08/2013:    Arborist returned to lop & remove the dead trees & non-native, overgrown shrubs from the front of our property.  The place looks like a lunar moonscape.  Can’t wait to see how the landscaping will look when the new place is finished.

29/08/2013:    Our landscape design plan was received.

29/08/2013:    Meeting with our Client Liaison Officer at MJH, Baulkham Hills, to review & sign the NSW Plain Language Building Contract for New Home Construction.


September 2013

20/09/2013:    Paid deposit of $1,000.00 to ANA Demolitions (Baulkham Hills), a subsidiary of Home Force, for the demolition of our of old home and external sheds.  Hoping to get the place demolished this side of Christmas, all being well.


October 2013

08/10/2013:    Signed Variation to Contract for additional costs.  For hygiene reasons, I wanted MJH to install a small hand basin for washing hands in the toilet/WC.  MJH will now install a Caroma Liano Ceramic Hand Wall Basin & Flickmixer hot & cold water taps.  MJH had to increase the overall size of the toilet to accommodate the hand basin.  As a consequence, we have now lost our Linen Cupboard.  Well, there’s only the 2 of us, we can make do without a Linen Cupboard and there are built-in wardrobes in all the bedrooms.

08/10/2013:    Development Application (DA) for the Construction of the new home lodged with Holroyd City Council by MJH.

11/10/2013:    Holroyd City Council notified MJH in writing that a Statement of Environmental Effects is required within 2 weeks or else Council will refuse approval for the DA.

14/10/2013:    Pete & I lodged our separate Development Application (DA) for the Demolition work with Holroyd City Council.

21/10/2013:    Holroyd City Council notified Pete and I in writing that the DA for our Demolition work has been approved.

22/10/2013:    MJH now slow-off-the-mark.  Mark signed another Variation to Contract for an additional $900.00 for the payment for the Statement of Environmental Effects as requested by Holroyd City Council on 11/10/2013.

23/10/2013:    Mark paid Holroyd City Council $1,564.00 for a kerb & guttering bond (which will be refunded after the construction work if there is no damage to the kerb & guttering).  Also paid $372.60 for a pre-demolition and post demolition inspection to be conducted by Council.

28/10/2013:    Electricals Selection Meeting at MJH My Choice Studios, Baulkham Hills.  Meeting went for almost 3 hours.  Refer separate posting about our Electrical Selections.  Watch out – it’s very easy to want to say ‘Yes’ to everything on offer!

28/10/2013:    Holroyd City Council wrote to MJH to remind MJH that they had failed to provide a Statement of Environmental Effects within Council’s designated timeframe.


November 2013
   
01/11/2013:    Subsequent to my prompting, MJH contacted Holroyd City Council & requested a 2 week extension of time to provide the Statement of Environmental Effects as initially requested by Council back on 11/10/2013.  “Not happy Jan!”  There goes our hopes for any demolition & construction work this side of Christmas.


December 2013

10/12/2013:    Holroyd City Council wrote to MJH & notified them that their Development Application (DA) for the Construction work had now (finally) been approved.  However, Council also notified some 80 special conditions to that DA Approval (Good grief!).

16/12/2013:    MJH received their copy of Holroyd City Council’s written DA Approval in the mail.

17/12/2013:    Our Client Liaison Officer at MJH telephoned Mark and advised they have now received Council’s DA Approval.  Client Liaison Officer advised, “there’s so many extraordinary & unusual Conditions attached to the DA Approval that MJH have not encountered elsewhere with any other Councils.  It will therefore take time for MJH to work through all those conditions & advise us accordingly.”

                     Some of the special Conditions included:

·         The need for Pete & I to provide a signed Statutory Declaration to Council to confirm that we have consulted the neighbours on our eastern boundary about the positioning of a small lattice screen measuring 2 metres x 300mm, which must be erected on top of the pre-existing fence line (directly opposite the single, narrow row of architecturally-designed windows in the Home Theatre Room) for privacy screening, otherwise Council would insist on different windows being installed.  That is despite the fact that our modified plans confirmed those windows will be installed at a raised level of 1500mm above floor level (as per our requests to MJH for our own “privacy reasons”).  You would need to be walking on stilts to see the neighbours in their home through those raised windows and vice versa!

·         Holroyd City Council also insisted on a small, architecturally-designed, lockable storage closet to be included in the garage (and not a free-standing cupboard).  No clarifying reasons given.  (When I later queried the reasons for that Condition with Council’s Senior Town Planner, the Senior Town Planner could not explain or clarify the reasons why, except to say that, “it’s just in case you might need extra storage space for ‘stuff’”.  When I asked for Council’s definition of “stuff” the Senior Town Planner clarified, “just stuff”.  I told the Senior Town Planner that we are also going to be installing a free-standing Stratco Garden Shed in our backyard and I protested about the need for this ridiculous Condition.  However, to avoid further frustrating delays & to comply with Council’s Condition, MJH had to modify the plans to insert an “architecturally-designed lockable storage closet” in our garage just for “stuff” that we do not want & which Council cannot explain.  The cost for that “stuff” – another Variation to Contract for the additional amount of $1,005.00!).

·         Council’s Conditions also referred to the need for us to pay $275.00 to provide a Traffic Management Plan (even though our property is in a quiet, residential area, the street is wide, and it is near no main roads, intersections or traffic lights!      

·         The overall wording of Holroyd City Council’s documents and DA Approvals is so poorly & dreadfully worded & very ambiguous.  There is no logic or reasoning for many of their ridiculous approval Conditions & bureaucratic bullshit.  Those related problems created enormous confusion, conflict & misunderstandings which further delayed progress for MJH & us.  It feels like we’re dealing with an inept Gestapo!

20/12/2013:    Neighbours duly notified & my signed Statutory Declaration forwarded to our Client Liaison Officer at MJH in compliance with Holroyd City Council’s ridiculous Condition about the erection of the lattice privacy screen on top of the eastern boundary fence.

20/12/2013:    I contacted our Client Liaison Officer at MJH.  Our Client Liaison Officer suggested that we might perhaps be on the Construction List for mid to late January 2014 & she suggested I should contact our Demolition company to check their availability.

20/12/2013:    MJH now closed for Christmas & New Year Holidays & their Industry Shutdown time.


January 2014

06/01/2014:    MJH return to work following their Christmas & New Year Holidays & their Industry Shutdown time.  I’ll let our Client Liaison Officer settle back in at work & will wait until tomorrow to contact her to query the status of things.

07/01/2014:    I contacted our Client Liaison Officer at MJH.  Our Client Liaison Officer advised that things had stalled because of their recent Industry Shutdown/break & because MJH & the Private Certifying Authority/CDC Agent are working through the myriad of Conditions that Holroyd City Council have attached to the DA Approval.
                    
·         Our Client Liaison Officer suggested that we might not be ready for Demolition on 20/01/2014 & she suggested I should contact our Demolition company to check their availability for later dates in early to mid February 2014.

·         Our Client Liaison Officer also advised that she has now resigned from MJH and will be leaving work on Friday 10/01/2014.  She will be handing our Job over to one of her colleagues.

07/01/2014:    I contacted ANA Demolitions & notified them about the current status of things.

07/01/2014:    ANA Demolitions was very understanding.  They promptly notified me that they could commence demolition (a 5 day job) starting from either the first or second week in February 2014.  They will pencil us in for those possible dates & I’ll keep them updated.

08/01/2014:    Time for Pete & I to seriously find a rental property ASAP that will be safe, secure, suitable & appropriate for us & our 2 pet elderly Staffies (who will be 12 years old on 03/03/2014).

14/01/2014:    I telephoned MJH to query the status of things with the new Client Liaison Officer at MJH who is now looking after our Job.  I alerted her to the fact that our Job is a knock-down & rebuild situation, & that we urgently need to know when:
                    
·         The Construction Certificate is due to be issued by the Private Certifying Agent/CDC Agent;

·         When we should request AGL to remove our Mains Gas Meter & Gas Service Line (which has to be done ASAP & which takes AGL at least 10 to 15 working days to remove the Gas); &

·         If MJH can now suggest an approximate date for us to reschedule the Demolition with ANA Demolitions?

·         The new Client Liaison Officer advised that MJH could not currently confirm when the application for the Construction Certificate will be lodged with the Private Certifying Agent/CDC Agent or when they can expect to obtain the Construction Certificate (which we’re required to have before demolition can commence).

·         I honestly feel sorry for our new Client Liaison Officer & I sincerely empathise with her.  It seems obvious that she is coping with her own hefty case load plus she’s inherited half of our previous Client Liaison Officer’s case load, but at the end of the day, that is not our problem. 

·         This is really becoming a frustrating Catch-22 nightmare tying to juggle all of this & liaising with MJH, the demolition company, AGL & Holroyd Council.  I’m ready to kill someone.

·         We are well outside of the specified 150 days for the commencement of construction.  We will object to paying $1,000.00 per month in penalty fees to MJH for these matters that have contributed to, or caused the delays, with the construction of our ‘Douglas’.

18/01/2014:    Pete & I inspected a nearby rental property.  It’s a 3 bedroom, free-standing old home, with undercover carport & spacious fenced yards (just perfect for the ‘kids’).  It’s no palace but it’ll do & Pete can use his Visual Merchandising skills to dress it up & make it feel homely.  It’s very handy, less than 2 minutes away from our home by car, it’s about 2 minutes walk to the local railway station and shops.  It should only be for about 6 months.  We’ll take it.  It will be very easy to stop by & check out the progress of the demolition and building… if/when it ever starts.

21/01/2014:    Pete & I signed a 6 month lease with the Real Estate Agent in Parramatta for the nearby rental property that we inspected on 18/01/2014.  Even the ‘kids’ (our 2 Staffies) are officially on the lease!  The lease becomes effective from 27/01/2014.

24/01/2014:    I picked-up the keys for our nearby rental property from the Real Estate Agent in Parramatta.

26/01/2014:    Australia Day.
 




27/01/2014:    The lease commences today on our nearby rental property & we’re still living in our old home.  We’re now paying a weekly rent plus a concurrent, existing mortgage on the old home, ouch.

·         Pete’s been busy packing for months.

·         We’ll spend this week moving our boxes & belongings into the rental place.

28/01/2014:    MJH finally lodged the application for a Construction Certificate with a Private Certifying Authority/CDC Agent, namely, Local Certification Services Pty. Ltd., at Camden.

29/01/2014:    Subsequent to my request, we had a face-to-face meeting with our new Client Liaison Officer at MJH to review the status of our Job & to see how it’s tracking.  The new Client Liaison Officer advised that the application for a Construction Certificate was lodged on 28/01/2014 & MJH anticipates receiving the Construction Certificate within approximately 10 days.

30/01/2014:    The new Client Liaison Officer phoned at 8:30 a.m. this morning.  She was so excited.  She confirmed that the Construction Certificate has now been issued & received from the Private Certifying Authority/CDC Agent.  Yippee!!!!!!!!!  At last!!!!!!

30/01/2014:    I received an E-mail copy of the Construction Certificate from the Private Certifying Authority/CDC Agent.

31/01/2014:    I received a Tax Invoice via E-mail from MJH for the remaining balance payment of our deposit, $8,825.36 incl. GST.  The payment is due by 07/02/2014.

31/01/2014:    A local guy advertising as, ‘A Cheap Man With A Van’, helped Pete & I move the bulky stuff, furniture, white goods, etc., into our rental property.  It was a stinking hot summer’s day, almost 39⁰C & 95% humidity.  I felt like I was going to keel-over in that heat.  We needed to make about 5 delivery loads over 3 hours in the man’s 2½ Tonne Renault Van.  Thank God the rental property is very close and handy.  The old home is now empty & the ‘kids’ are very bewildered, but they seem to be coping OK.

31/01/2014:    Our first night in our rental home.  There’s problems with the co-axial external TV ariel cable.  There’s no signal for the TV.  Bugger!  We can only watch DVD’s.  Hope the Real Estate Agent can get this fixed for us in time to watch the Sochi Winter Olympic Games.


February 2014

07/02/2014:    Follow-up meeting with the ANZ Bank.

07/02/2014:    We paid MJH’s Tax Invoice for the remaining balance payment of our deposit, $8,825.36 incl. GST.

07/02/2014:    I notified ANA Demolitions that we can’t proceed with Demolition from Monday 10/02/2014 because we’re still waiting for AGL to disconnect our Mains Gas supply.  We feel awful for stuffing ANA Demolitions around so much with these delays.  Unfortunately, they’re now fully booked with other jobs and they can’t help with any other alternate dates for Demolition in February.

07/02/2014:    We’ve been concerned about the security of our mail.  I therefore leased a Post Office Box from the local Australia Post Office and I got the key for it today.  We’ll have all our mail deliveries redirected to that Post Office Box until we’re ready to move into our new home.

08/02/2014:    The Sochi Winter Olympic Games have commenced & the TV ariel still hasn’t been fixed.  Arrrggghhh.  By the sounds of it, we haven’t missed much.

10/02/2014:    AGL finally removed our Mains Gas Supply Line and removed our Gas Meter – at a cost of over $1,200.00… ouch.  (We’ll have to pay that amount again when we’re ready to reconnect the Mains Gas to the new home).

22/02/2014:    After many sleepless nights worrying about things, ANA Demolitions phoned on Saturday 22/02/2014.  They advised that, all being well and weather permitting, they will now be able to demolish our old home commencing on & from Monday 03/03/2014!  Fantastic news!

24/02/2014:    In accordance with Holroyd Council’s requirements, I officially notified all our immediate and adjacent neighbours & Holroyd Council in writing today about the status of the proposed Demolition that is now due to commence from 03/03/2014 (we’re obliged to give all parties 5 days notice in advance before Demolition commences).  I also visited Council to book their pre-demolition inspection which has to be done by a Council Inspector on the first day of demolition before demolition work commences.  Council will also need to conduct a post demolition inspection in due course.

25/02/2014:    I received an E-mail update from our new Client Liaison Officer at MJH.  She advised that, all being well, she anticipates MJH will place us on their Construction List for mid to late March 2014 (fingers crossed), providing the Demolition work goes as planned.   If that transpires, it’s looking like Construction should be completed within 5 to 6 months (circa August/September 2014, approximately by my estimation).  Bugger.  I was hoping we could be ready to move in by June so that we could hit the Mid Year sales for new furnishings etc.

25/02/2014:    A Mr. Fix-it character arrived today to fix the TV ariel cable for us in the rental property.  We now have Free-To-Air TV working properly again.


28/02/2014:    Pete & I are due to see the ANZ Bank again to finalise & sign our new mortgage documents for the MJH Douglas.  We were supposed to do that on 19/02/2014, but ANZ Bank postponed and rescheduled the meeting until 28/02/2014.  ANZ Bank will also need to issue their ‘Authority to Commence Building’ to MJH ASAP following that.  Our Home Loan manager at ANZ assures me that all is OK & that the Bank is on track with things.  So far, the Bank has been the least of our worries (touch wood).


March 2014

03/03/2014:    The ‘kids’ birthday!  Our 2 Staffies, Buddy & Taz, will be 12 years old on 03/03/2014.  They’re brother & sister from the same litter & we’ve had them since they were only 8 weeks old.  Taz is actually an hermaphrodite (both male & female, so she’s our ‘Special Girl’).  They’re very spoilt Staffies.  Buddy is not well & he’s very crippled-up with debilitating osteoarthritis in his spine & elbows.  All we can do is medicate him & keep him comfortable.  We hope we can hold onto him until we’re able to move into our new home.  They’ve settled into the rental home really well.

03/03/2014:    D-Day!!!!  Fingers crossed that ANA Demolitions can finally proceed with Demolition starting from 03/03/2014 (it will be a 5 day job for them).