By Conor McCloud
A Sunshine North couple is calling on Brimbank Council to urgently reconsider a controversial footpath proposal they say will destroy the privacy, safety, and value of their home.
David and Dee, residents of Brygee Close, have lived at the end of the quiet street since 2022. But a newly proposed L-shaped pedestrian path would bring public access within just one metre of their front door, cutting through what they say is intended to be their private front garden.
“We didn’t just buy a house—we invested our savings, our future, and our peace of mind,” Dee said. “This proposal completely undermines that.”
The couple has experienced multiple security incidents since moving in, including a home intrusion, a stolen vehicle, and their home being vandalised twice. They believe the proposed path will increase the risk of future crime while turning their front yard into a public thoroughfare.
“To have a pathway virtually on our doorstep, exposing our gas meter and plumbing infrastructure to the public, is not only dangerous—it’s insulting,” Dee said.
The dispute is the latest in a series of frustrations. The couple says their front garden has already been destroyed twice by noncompliant or unauthorised construction works, leaving them to deal with damage and disruption without any clear accountability.
The footpath forms part of the final stages of a neighbouring development approved by Brimbank Council and delivered by Pace Development Group. The couple claims the current design shows a lack of planning foresight and fails to consider the liveability or safety of existing residents.
Plans indicate green space on the opposite side of the existing fence line, which Dee says offers a far more logical and safer route for the path.
“All it takes is a small planning amendment,” she said. “It’s a simple fix that would protect our safety and improve the outcome for everyone.”
Despite repeated attempts to engage with the Council over the past two years—including multiple invitations to visit the site—only one officer ever attended, and that staff member has since left the Council.
Dee has now assumed responsibility for all correspondence, saying the process has taken a heavy toll on David’s mental health.
“The emotional and psychological stress has been significant. It’s not just frustrating—it’s exhausting,” she said.
Brimbank Council recently offered to delay works but has not proposed an alternative alignment. The couple is now threatening to escalate the matter to their local MP, Minister for Local Government Nick Staikos, and Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny if a resolution is not found.
“We are reasonable people. We just want a secure home and a planning decision that makes sense,” Dee said.
The couple is urging the Council to broker a three-way meeting with the developer or initiate a planning amendment that would see the footpath redirected.
“Right now, it feels like residents are being ignored in favour of developers,” Dee said. “It’s not just our home on the line—it’s the principle of fair and responsible planning.”
