As machinery began to claw away the native vegetation and pile up layer upon layer of sand at the Madora Bay North development, Singleton residents have started to raise concerns about the construction’s impact on their way of life.
The development has been in the works for years but only now are locals weighing in on the what living next door the project will mean.
The development came under scrutiny when its plan was approved by the Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC) Statutory Planning Committee in 2014.
When approved, the plan differed significantly from what the City of Mandurah council had decided on months earlier.
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The original plan included a buffer zone between the established suburb of Singleton and what would eventually be Madora Bay north.
In the approval process, modifications were made, some of which stripped the plan of that desired zone.
Lester Martin and Lynda Robinson have been living in the southern City of Rockingham suburb for the past twenty years.
Lynda’s mother lives on the southern boundary of Singleton and has a front row seat to the recent earthworks.
Ms Robinson claimed she had received little consultation prior to the earthworks commencing and are angered by the height of the new subdivision.
“What I can't understand is why they would build it up,” Mr Martin said.
Sand has been piled more than two and a half metres high at the rear end of the family’s property.
Stressing privacy concerns, Mr Martin said new homes would have a direct view into neighbouring backyards.
Mr Martin said while he anticipated that the land would be cleared and developed, he was shocked when the front end loaders started to move in.
Ms Robinson said it was the little things that bothered her about the situation.
She said her mother often enjoyed sitting outside and to “enjoy a cuppa” but sand blowing into the backyard was impacting that routine. The sand emissions levels are monitored by developers and the City of Mandurah.
The developers of the project are Madora Bay Partnerships (owned by H & N Perry), who have engaged engineering construction company Wormall Civil Pty Ltd to undertake the on-site works.
Madora Bay Partnerships was contacted regarding the matter, however, declined the opportunity to officially comment on the issue.
The works commenced on July 9 and are expected to be completed on November 11.
The development plan covers an area of about 143 hectares and seeks to facilitate the development of the site for about 1500 residential lots.
Follow Caitlyn Rintoul on Twitter via @caitlynrintoul.