New obs - how close to my fence line?

[RugbyRene]

Hi all,

I’ve been given the green-light by the aesthetics committee to build an observatory in my front-yard. It’s a challenging place to build but I think I’ve found a spot. I checked the NSW planning laws and from what I can understand (which is no easy thing) any structure has to be at least 900mm from the boundary line. Unfortunately due to the limited space this would scupper my plans. The structure would basically be a ROR garden-shed (so it doesn’t stand-out). I’m probably looking at 5-6sqm mtrs of decking with the structure on-top.

So my question is what have other people done? I’ve seen on the forum that some people have theirs pretty close to the boundary line (certainly less than 900mm). What options (other than relocating the obs or moving) do I have?

Rene

[Startrek]

Check with your local council , they usually review and approve all DA and BA for new , additions and alterations on private land
Although a garden shed (ROR )may not require specific distances from boundary lines as it’s not a permanent structure ie : it can be moved
Also easements may come into play as well , you can’t build or place structures over them in most cases
Local council is your first call I’d say

[glend]

Agreed, local Council has the ultimate say, and 900mm seems to be a fairly common Sydney area figure (often seen as side passage access corridor). If you keep the height of the structure to 3 metres you may get away from any requirements for Council. However, if a neighbor complains you could have problems.
I do not recommend building an observatory on standard sort of porch deck, as they will flex. If your walking around inside you can't have your equipment shifting or vibrating. You can build a slighty elevated platform on posts, with cross beams and a solid ply floor, but your pier should be totally isolated from the floor structure. Isolating the pier just means bringing it up through a hole in the floor, you can pack the gap with flexible foam if you wish. The pier should be footing should be appropriate size. I always recommend a concrete pier, poured as part of the footing with reo inside, but it is more complicated than a steel pier on a flat footing, but it costs less.
Of course the design, and floor, is very dependent on what sort of equipment your putting inside. If your visual only, on a Dobsonian, that would require a different approach to imaging with a mount.
Good luck.

[RugbyRene]

That’s where I started. My council (Willoughby) directed me to the NSW Planning website.

[RugbyRene]

Once I start imaging I won’t be walking around, so a deck will do fine. And I’m not going down the pier route. A tripod is just as stable.

[fsphotography]

Put wheels and a tow bar on it and call it a caravan,park it where you like.:D

[RugbyRene]

:rofl: Don’t think I hadn’t thought of that.