A Brisbane home solar owner has won a solar stoush in Queensland’s Supreme Court over the placement of her solar panels.
Pauline Tyler is celebrating the right to position her solar panels on the street-facing roof of her Brisbane property to gain maximum efficiency, according to Channel Nine News.
As Energy Matters reported in March, her property’s developer wanted the panels moved so they would not be visible from the street. Because Tyler refused to comply with the request, Oxmar Properties took her to court to enforce the order.
Victory for Brisbane home solar panel owners
Oxmar Properties claim a covenant signed by Tyler when she bought her house-land package gave them the right to choose orientation of solar panels.
Yet Queensland Government by-laws say solar panels cannot be rejected on aesthetic grounds. Supreme Court judge Justice Martin Burns agreed. He dismissed the application and awarded Tyler costs.
According to Pauline Tyler’s lawyer, the Queensland Supreme Court decision is a victory for all new home buyers looking for solar quotes.
Solar stoush: Developers and owners don’t always agree
Oxmar Properties are now launching an appeal against the ruling. However, we may see more of these disputes as solar installations grow in popularity.
Adelaide resident Dr Jo Thomas also had to fight a developer to stop a major four-storey development overshadowing her solar panels.
Thomas says the new building would have cut her electricity generation by 35 per cent and solar hot water by 85 per cent. She lives in a small, medium-density complex.
As the ABC reported, the development was stopped by Council. Because the developer appealed, Thomas then had to make submissions to court. Finally, in 2017, the court found in the Council’s favour.
The court recognised the importance of solar panels having clear access to sunlight. Factors like streetscape and natural environment also played a part, however.
No blanket legislation exists for solar
Because no blanket legislation exists around solar installations, these solar court cases are new legal territory.
In the case of large developments, issues other than solar panels help determine the outcomes. This applied in the Adelaide case.
Considerations such as visual impact and blending in with existing density and design requirements have so far carried more weight than just solar impact.
