When Greg Honeyman from MBCM Strata Specialists Ballarat took over management of Owners Corporation PS301254, it was clear the scheme had been left carrying a growing maintenance burden for far too long.
The development is a 12-lot community with a mix of internal dividing fences and external boundary fencing. Over a number of years, routine upkeep had been overlooked and the result was unavoidable: internal fences were deteriorating to the point of collapse, and the external boundary fences were also failing. For residents, it wasn’t just a visual issue. On top of that, fencing had become a genuine safety and security concern, with pets able to escape and neighbours understandably frustrated by the ongoing inaction.
The challenge that complicated the project was threefold: shared boundaries, mixed materials, and uneven responsibility.
This wasn’t a straightforward “replace the fence” job. The Owners Corporation is bordered on three sides by neighbouring properties, creating a web of shared responsibilities under fencing legislation. In total, there were 10 neighbouring properties, but not all of them were in the same position.
One neighbouring property, a newly built three-lot Owners Corporation, had already replaced fencing during construction and didn’t need to be included. Other neighbours, however, did not agree to proceed with replacements at the same time, meaning the project needed to move forward with only the parties who were ready and responsible for the impacted sections.
Ultimately, the contributing parties included:
- All 12 lots within the Owners Corporation, and
- Neighbouring properties at 519, 516 and 507 (based on the fence sections requiring replacement and neighbour participation).
Complicating things further, the fencing across the site wasn’t uniform:
- External fencing was predominantly timber paling, while
- Internal fencing (including some gates) was Colorbond, with several sections bordering common property.
From quotes to fair cost allocation
MBCM Strata Specialists coordinated three competitive quotations from fencing contractors and supported the owners to select their preferred provider.
But selecting a contractor was only the beginning. The quote covered multiple fence types and gates, and the site boundaries didn’t align neatly between the Owners Corporation lots and adjoining properties. That meant there was no simple “split it evenly” approach available.
To ensure costs were allocated fairly and accurately, Greg and his team:
- Measured fence lines section-by-section to determine precise dimensions
- Mapped which sections related to individual lots, common property, and neighbours
- Built a detailed spreadsheet that broke the total contract price into the exact proportion payable by each lot, the Owners Corporation, and each contributing neighbour
- Provided the contractor with clear instructions on how invoices should be issued to each contributing party.
Governance and legal coordination
Because this was major expenditure, MBCM Strata Specialists also led the process to ensure the Owners Corporation stayed compliant and decision-making was properly documented.
This included convening a Special General Meeting so owners could formally approve:
- The selected quotation via a Special Resolution, and
- Special Levies (also by Special Resolution) to fund each owner’s share.
On the neighbour side, MBCM Strata Specialists worked with the City of Ballarat to obtain accurate ownership details, enabling fencing notices to be issued under the Fences Act 1968.
As is often the case with older boundary matters, progress wasn’t linear. One neighbour was initially not contactable, and locating correct details caused a delay of several weeks. During follow-ups, it also became clear that two neighbours had been raising concerns with the previous manager for years, with no meaningful action taken, adding to the pressure and expectation for quick progress once MBCM Strata Specialists stepped in.
Once all contributing neighbours had approved, MBCM Strata Specialists issued the work order and coordinated the final approvals so the contractor could proceed with confidence.
From long-term neglect to a clear plan and delivery
What began in April 2025 became a highly detailed, multi-party project, and one that required both technical accuracy and patient stakeholder management. The work is now scheduled to be completed in early February 2026, representing a total timeline of over ten months from commencement to completion.
The result is a well-managed outcome that restores safety, security and amenity, with owners relieved that a long-deferred issue has finally been resolved properly. Just as importantly, neighbours who had been dealing with deteriorating fences (and escaping dogs) for years are now seeing real progress and a clear end in sight.
For the Owners Corporation, the project reinforced the value of proactive, structured strata management, and the owners have been pleased that they made the decision to move management to MBCM Strata Specialists Ballarat.