Lake Macquarie offers a lifestyle like no other, but its geography presents unique challenges for homeowners looking to extend. From the shores of Eleebana to the heights of Warners Bay, extending your home requires a builder who understands the local terrain and council expectations.
Understanding your block
Lake Macquarie is known for its beautiful, undulating landscape. However, steep or sloping blocks often require complex structural engineering. Before you fall in love with a floor plan, it is essential to understand your site and the building ‘footprint’.
We recommend engaging a surveyor early to identify contours and the precise location of any easements. In many Lake Macquarie suburbs, we also have to navigate Mine Subsidence areas and related building requirements. This doesn’t mean you can’t build, but it does mean your extension may need to meet specific foundation and engineering requirements to ensure long-term stability.
Navigating the council process
Lake Macquarie City Council (LMCC) has clear guidelines for residential extensions. Depending on the size and impact of your project, you may have two options:
- Complying Development (CDC): If your extension meets specific state-wide criteria regarding height, setbacks and floor area, it may be eligible for approval by a private certifier. This is often faster and is a great path for more straightforward extensions.
- Development Application (DA): If your design is more bespoke or sits on a constrained site, it will generally require a full DA through LMCC. This process takes longer but can allow for more flexibility in design.
Designing for the lake lifestyle
When extending in this region, the goal is almost always to capture a view or improve the connection from the indoors to the outdoors. In our Charlestown extension, we created a tranquil parents’ retreat and entertainers kitchen flowing seamlessly to a second living and outdoor entertaining area.
The Jenkins Residential approach
We believe the best extensions are those that look like they were always there. Whether it’s a modern extension that provides a striking contrast, or a seamless addition that matches your original roofline, we focus on quality craftsmanship.
Our process starts with a thorough review of your site and plans and collaboration with your designer as required to ensure that by the time we start construction, all the hurdles have been cleared. If you are running out of room in Lake Macquarie, a quality extension is an investment in your family’s future and your property’s value.