Increasing number of granny flats causes headache for Blacktown residents

Crowded streets, messy yards and neighbours at arm’s length are some of the issues raised by Blacktown residents about the proliferation of granny flats.

Sydney has seen a threefold increase in granny flat construction over the past five years. There are 100 new flats every week according to NSW Government figures.

The small, detached dwellings are a favourite for developers, but ratepayers are worried about the sudden influx of new neighbours in suburbs not equipped to handle a population boom.

Prospect resident Lorraine McIlvenna bought a villa in a townhouse complex surrounded by low-density housing in 2007.

“Nine years ago I didn’t have issues getting in and out of the driveway, but if you look up Flushcombe Road from my front door now there’s cars parked everywhere,” she said. “It’s not moving, it’s not flowing anymore. And that’s something I don’t think council stopped to consider.”

Ms McIlvenna said Blacktown Council recently resolved an issue with waste collection, but she said the council and her strata management have been dormant with other problems.

“People have got excess cars so they’re parking in the visitor spots, and the overflow from that is curbside. You’ve got a lot of cars, a lot of bins, a lot of people squashed in. I don’t think people were meant to be that close together.

“You buy a property for a specific reason; for me I like open space and trees. I’ve been in three properties now [in Blacktown] and this has happened to me every time I’ve bought somewhere.”

Her concerns are echoed by Francisca Tynan, who wrote to the Sun about changes to her quiet street.

Mrs Tynan said developers bought up homes and got development applications approved while the council took two years to get the new Blacktown Local Environment Plan through court.

“I understand that this is progress but […] these house will not be able to cope with the two cars that a lot of people have,” she said.

“Our local traffic will nearly double, especially as our street is a cul-de-sac. 

“A lot of these properties end up as rentals and are then not cared for.”

Are you concerned? Email harrison.vesey@fairfaxmedia.com.au.

This story was originally published on the Blacktown Sun.