When Dee Hanna and her family bought their Saratoga home just under 12 months ago, one of the factors which influenced their decision was plans for Central Coast Council to provide a double driveway at the premises as part of an upgrade of Davistown Rd.
But what has happened since has turned into a nightmare for the three-car family, which is accusing Council of poor planning resulting in a driveway so steep they are scared to drive their cars down it.
“We thought having a double driveway would be great because we were thinking of buying a boat,” Hanna said.
“We didn’t get all the paperwork on the plans before we bought and didn’t realise the work involved raising the road itself by quite a lot.
“On January 10 the contractors started work, beginning by demolishing the existing driveway and what followed has been terrible.
“When the driveway was finally completed, it was so steep that we couldn’t drive our vehicles down it without scraping the bottom of the cars.”
Hanna said whether cars are driven in nose first or reversed, one end of them scrapes on the steep driveway, estimated by a structural engineer approached by the family to be almost a 30 degree incline.
“The second driveway, beside the existing carport, is so narrow that a car cannot be parked so that both driver and passenger doors can be opened,” she said.
“So if someone wants to get in the passenger side doors they have to balance on a narrow ledge beside our property and the adjoining one just to open the door.”
On the other side of this ledge is a drop of around a metre.
To further exacerbate the family’s woes, since the raising of the road there is a steady run-off of water down the side steps to the house, where water pools dangerously, seeping into the brickwork.
“We’re not quite sure where this water is coming from but there wasn’t an issue prior to the roadworks and we are very worried about the long-term effect on our brickwork,” Hanna said.
She said Council had been slow to respond to the family’s concerns, despite repeated complaints.
“There is no on-street parking now and we often have to park at the top of the driveway, blocking the footpath, because we are frightened of the damage being done to our vehicles,” she said.
“It’s extremely dangerous – I have already twisted my ankle once while trying to walk down the driveway.
Two weeks ago, Hanna says she was informed by Council that surveyors would measure the levels and get back to her with a plan.
“We have heard nothing since.”
Hanna said it was unclear why the road level needed to be raised so much.
“Delivery drivers and tradesmen will not attempt the driveway,” she said.
“It’s infuriating – you feel like your concerns are falling on deaf ears.”
A spokesperson said Council has been progressively upgrading Davistown Rd over many years to provide improved travel, pedestrian and safety for motorists and pedestrians.
“Davistown Rd is a key road which carries a high volume of traffic, accommodates bus services, and is the main road servicing residential areas of Yattalunga, Saratoga and Davistown,” the spokesperson said.
“Due to the terrain, and to accommodate travel lanes, bus infrastructure, and pedestrian pathways, some adjustments to the road have been necessary and resulted in modifications to private driveways.
“Council Officers work with affected residents, including (the Hanna family) to ensure the best possible outcome in modifying private access.
“Council is continuing to investigate and liaise with the owners of (the house) to address the concerns with their modified driveway access and water ponding concerns.”
Terry Collins