Getting approval to build 90 new homes in Goonellabah hasn’t been an easy task local for developer John McMahon.

After being knocked back last year by the previous Council, this year, his Platypus Park development at 805 Ballina Road was finally approved by the new Council.

Now, John is planning the next stage of construction - but his development has changed radically since the early days.

No longer will there be 'hobbit homes' built into the side of the hill - as part of house and land packages, originally advertised as “a new way to live with nature".

Read more: Hobbit homes eco-development on the way to Goonellabah

Green Magic Homes

The 'hobbit homes' vision came from the ideas of building company, Green Magic Homes and its founder Glen Stevenson.

Fortunately for John, the partnership between Green Magic Homes and himself never progressed past the initial ideas stage.

Licence cancelled

Earlier this month, NSW Fair Trading cancelled the building licence of Green Magic Homes and warned consumers not to deal with the company. It also advised consumers to contact Fair Trading if they were having problems with them.

Minister for Fair Trading Eleni Petinos said Green Magic Homes had taken large sums of money from customers, but never completed the building work. It had also contracted to work without appropriate insurance.

Funds and fraud

“It appears that funds from customers may have been used for personal expenses including travel, groceries, restaurants, liquor stores, gambling, and accommodation,” Ms Petinos said.

“The director of the company at the time it was licenced failed to disclose prior convictions for fraud-related offences when applying for a contractor licence in 2021.

“This serves as a warning to any operators attempting to rip off everyday people – you will be caught and met with the full consequences.”

Platypus Park

John said when he originally considered partnering with Green Magic Homes, it was dependent on the company building one of the ‘hobbit homes’ as an exhibition home.

“When I looked at the photos Glen Stevenson showed me, they looked great,” John said.

“But I said to him, before I commit to any of these blocks, I’d like to see a finished article - and I never saw one.

“Now, I have other builders who want to partner with me. I was flabbergasted when I found out Glen’s building licence was cancelled– and relieved I wasn’t in a partnership with him.”

What’s next?

With a Development Approval for stand-alone blocks of land on which any type of home can be built, John is putting together a construction certificate (CC) which will need to be approved by Council.

John said the development will continue to work with the natural hilly contours of the land and site plans include linking Tucki Tucki Creek on Holland Street to the new Oliver Avenue bypass round back.

As well as regenerating the creek area, a park and viewing decks near the creek are planned, so people can watch the wildlife.

“The ecologist saw a platypus there the other day in Platypus Park,” John said.

New blocks and houses

“Once the CC is approved, then earth works on site can start and I can engage a builder to build an estate, roads and infrastructure, to get it ready for sale as blocks of land.

“Some blocks may lend themselves to duplexes, and have granny flats at the back of homes.

“A couple of areas in the development will have community title and will be more reasonably priced.

Housing crisis

“It’s all going to help with the housing crisis here right now.

“I’ve had nowhere to live too since the flood – I lost my home and cattle too.

“So many people are trying to find somewhere to live and it’s been hard to get a rental, when 30 cars turn up to house inspections.

“If I can provide 90 new homes, then 90 families that can be helped.”