RESIDENTS have expressed frustration over being "stonewalled" by council on a roofing material issue.
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Six residents of Bulwer Road in Moss Vale have complained about high glare coming off a silver galvanised roof on a neighbouring property.
The issue was raised in questions from the public in the Ordinary Council Meeting on April 9.
A neighbour notification went out about the development application (DA) in November 2013, which stated the roofing material would be Colourbond Shale Gray.
Resident Gabby Kent lives about 100 metres from the property in question and said she was "shocked" when she noticed the roof was galvanised iron.
In 2013 a DA for renovations on the Kent's house was rejected for having galvanised iron in the plan design.
"We went through the same building process last year, why does council have one set of rules for one and a different set for another?," she said.
"The neighbours and I have actively tried to get this resolved through various avenues, writing letters, going into council and speaking with council staff and we are constantly blocked, stonewalled or just get no response at all.
"There is no robust process or forum for complaints."
Properties in the area are governed by guidelines set out in Wingecarribee Council's Rural lands and Rural Living Development Control Plan (DCP).
The DCP explains that plain galvanised steel is permitted "if a glare nuisance is not anticipated" and will not be "visually obtrusive from any public place". Four residential properties face onto the property in question.
A council spokesperson said the change of roofing material happened during the assessment of the DA.
"This did not warrant re-notification of the proposal as the Rural Lands DCP allows the use of galvanised iron," the spokesperson said.
"In this case the placement of galvanised iron roofing within a rural context was deemed suitable.
"All roofing materials have an initial sheen when installed. This diminishes over time as the material weathers."
Mrs Kent said the glare had affected neighbour relations because of the impact it has had on surrounding properties.
"Right now we have the equivalent of the Parkes Satellite dish and 1000 suns beaming into our lounge rooms," she said.
"The glare moves between shiny glaring white to an extreme mirror glare."
In the council meeting on April 9 a council staff member responded to questions raised in the meeting and said the glare nuisance factor was not anticipated.
"Largely the initial reflectivity is due to surface oils resulting and these degrade when exposed to weather," the staff member said.
"Another factor is the angle of the sun and time of year."
The spokesperson said the exception to this was zincalume material, which was not permitted in the DCP guidelines.