Logan Reserve woman Veronica Russo-Connors would like to reclaim the rear end of her 11-acre property from the stodgy mess it’s become.
But that seems a long shot. The developer of nearby land claims they are not at fault, and Logan City Council has ceased communications until the matter is resolved before the civil courts.
“They want me to go to a civil court,” she said.
“But why should I have to spend money on lawyers and fight it in the courts when I didn’t cause it?”
Since 2018, Mrs Russo-Connors, in her 80s, has seen the rear two acres of her property transformed into a perpetual bog.
She believes it is being caused by the development of a storm water reservoir that was put on her boundary in 2018 as part of the Middleton Park residential estate.
Before developer CFMG started construction, she claims there were no drainage issues.
The reservoir discharges about three metres away from the rear boundary, which she says pushes runoff straight onto her land. Grandson Michael Shannon Russo said the affected land is unusable.
“You can’t get up there to mow, maintain the land, or even go for a walk,” he said.
They are now at a stalemate.
“Council’s basically put it down to a civil matter, not a council matter as their belief was the developer’s in line with the DA, that they’ve done everything right. But we still have stormwater flowing onto the property nearly all year round despite there being no rain,” Mr Russo said.
Logan City Council said it “cannot comment” as it understands the issue is a “civil court matter between other parties”, while developer CFMG stands by the assertion it followed correct council requirements.
“The development and stormwater infrastructure has been constructed in accordance with the Logan City Council approvals,” a CFMG spokesperson said.
“We are happy to work constructively with council and other parties to address any concerns they have about the approved works.”
Communication between Mrs Russo Connors and CFMG broke down in February 2020, a day before a proposed meeting, after other media reported she was taking legal action.
Mrs Russo Connors was keen to point out that no legal action has been taken and that any claim suggesting otherwise is incorrect.
