January ’08
Michelle put what she saw with the mind’s eye on paper and emailed a series of sketches to Built Vision, the building firm which specialises in contemporary additions to heritage housing.
February ’08
Built Vision’s David Grieve worked the sketches into a set of plans and submitted them to Port Adelaide Enfield Council.
April ’08
Port Adelaide Enfield Council Planner, Zoe Pfeiffer, wrote to Michelle on April 7th 2008 advising that, since the proposed plans submitted in February failed to comply with Residential Zone requirements, Michelle should submit amended plans.
In her letter, Ms Pfeiffer noted, too, that the resubmitted plans address various other issues such as that the external cladding be made of “real timber with profile and dimensions to match existing cottage.”
May ’08
Michelle phoned Ms Pfeiffer and pointed out that the proposed plans for the addition at Blackler Street did not contravene Port Adelaide Enfield Council’s Residential Zone requirements. The planner insisted that they did, that she had “been to the property.” Michelle provided measurements which clearly demonstrated that the drawings were in accordance with the regulations. Ms Pfeiffer acknowledged the matter of fact but advised that Michelle should speak with the Council’s heritage architect, Therese Willis, to clarify the other issues raised in Council’s April 7th letter. Michelle made an appointment to meet Ms Willis at the Port Adelaide Enfield Council office on May 20th.
Ms Willis arrived an hour late for the meeting and conducted it in the Council offices reception area. Michelle was nonplussed by the heritage architect’s bluster but emerged with an agreement that the external cladding would not be “real timber” but "corrugated iron." The architect wanted the wall which would connect the addition to the existing heritage cottage to be “broken up with windows.” Michelle pointed out that Council planning regulations prohibited such windows. Ms Willis said that her concern was heritage architecture, not planning.
June '08
Built Vision redrew the plans in accordance with Therese Willis’ directives and Michelle submitted them and an accompanying letter to Zoe Pfeiffer on June 30th 2008. That covering letter contained the following sentence: “The external cladding of the addition will be horizontal Galvanised Corr Steel.”
July '08
Port Adelaide Enfield Council granted consent to the Development Plan, subject to four conditions, on July 31st.
August-September ’08
The necessary demolition work was carried out and the site made ready for construction.
 
  
  
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