Comments on: Under the Moruya Moon (3)

By: Rocket

Rocket — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 22:12:41 +0000

Paronella Park! My wife’s family went there over 30 years ago and her Dad always raved about it – it seems now to resemble Angkor Wat (in the 1980′s pre-recent tourism).
We were in Moruya recently, and have always (as Victorians) loved the NSW South Coast – I think another reason for the relative lack of development is that the hinterland so rapidly turns very wild with few roads, towns etc.
Also the surf conditions I think can be fairly rough in January, at the height of the tourist season.

By: ronda jambe

ronda jambe — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 09:19:34 +0000

Thanks for your intelligent observations, Graham.
The local council has been complex and expensive, but not obstructionist. There are a lot of hoops to jump through, I might discuss those a bit in the next installment.
All options for the roof were considered,including extra sheeting on top. But one of the internal problems has been lack of sealing against insects, and particularly spiders, and an overroof wouldn’t have solved that. It might also have looked messy, and condensation between layers might have been an issue.
The new roof will have gutters, and 2 10,000 litre tanks have just gone in, under where the deck will be. Down the track, there may be more tanks, down the slope.
At the moment, we have 240v regular mains power, and will put in solar hot water. Eventually, as the price drops, we will probably do solar electricity as well.
It is a gorgeous spot, in the bush but looking out to the sea, but the soil is poor. Lots to do and dream about!
We were there yesterday, I should have taken photos as it progresses…next visit I will.

By: Graham Bell

Graham Bell — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 07:15:39 +0000

Ronda:
Sounds wonderful.
How did you deal with the hysterical, irrational hatred of owner-builders and innovators so prevelent in officialdom?
Wondered why, if the roof was leaking, you didn’t just add additional framing and then put new[er] sheets of corrugated iron over the top of the upper ones? Admittedly, the air space would have beem only a few millimetres but the doubled thickness of metal might have helped lessen some heat transfer. Just a suggestion. Why no guttering along the bottom of each side?
Do you have 240v mains power or use batteries and inverter?
What “folly of a lifetime”? You do what you can with what you have – and you have done exceedingly well indeed.