A Sydney mother has spoken out about her two-year 'nightmare' battling her local council over a pool fence, an experience she says left her feeling 'criminalised' and on the verge of a breakdown.
Vanessa Jacobs-Fennell, a resident of the affluent suburb of Bellevue Hill, found herself in a protracted dispute with Woollahra Municipal Council after receiving a compliance notice for her swimming pool barrier in August 2022.
'I felt like I was drowning,' Ms Jacobs-Fennell told Daily Mail Australia. 'The constant stress, the financial burden, and the feeling of being treated like a criminal for trying to do the right thing was overwhelming.'
A Costly and Complex Dispute
The council's notice stated that her glass pool fence was non-compliant because the gaps between the panels were too wide, potentially allowing a small child to squeeze through. What followed was a complex and expensive process of hiring multiple certifiers, engineers, and lawyers.
Ms Jacobs-Fennell argued that the fence was safe, having been initially approved and with her children now teenagers. She spent thousands of dollars seeking professional advice, all while facing the threat of escalating fines.
'The System is Broken'
'The system feels completely broken,' she said. 'It's not about safety anymore; it's about box-ticking and revenue. There was no common sense applied.'
Her mental health suffered significantly during the ordeal, leading to anxiety and a sense of helplessness. The conflict was only recently resolved after a final inspection, but the emotional and financial scars remain.
The case highlights the intense pressure and bureaucratic challenges homeowners can face when dealing with local government regulations, turning a simple compliance issue into a years-long personal battle.
