A Sydney mum-of-four says she has been left devastated after her local council issued a warning about her popular Halloween display following complaints from a neighbour.
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council → say → neighbour
Sarah Naylor-Liddell transforms her home in Oran Park, in the city's south-west, into 'Spider House' every October with decorations attracting hundreds of visitors.
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decorations → transform → visitors
Each year, she takes a month off work to deck out the house and then open it to the public free of charge for the six days leading up to Halloween.
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she → take → Halloween
However, she said Camden Council has raised concerns about the attraction operating without the required checks and approvals.
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attraction → say → checks
Ms Naylor-Liddell took to social media in a tearful video earlier this week.
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Liddell → take → video
She claimed the display would not be allowed to continue beyond this year if she didn't go through the council permit process.
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she → claim → process
'It literally breaks my heart so much.
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It → break → heart
I was told that even if I applied for a permit, that it's going to get rejected,' she said.
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she → tell → permit
Ms Naylor-Liddell said the council had contacted her after complaints from nearby residents.
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council → say → residents
Sarah Naylor-Liddell says she was left devastated after council raised concerns about her elaborate Halloween display following complaints from a neighbour
Ms Naylor-Liddell takes the entire month of October off work to bring her Halloween vision to life
Ms
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Liddell → say → life
Naylor-Liddell said she believed it took just one complaint from a neighbour to prompt council intervention, although she did not know their identity.
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she → say → identity
'We received a phone call that obviously the council has known about what we do,' she told A Current Affair.
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she → receive → Affair
'It took one person, one complaint.
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It → take → person
And of all these years, one person has complaints.'
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person → have → complaints
She said she had never expected the attraction to become so popular, with visitors now travelling from Wollongong, the Central Coast and even the Hunter Valley to experience the display and share in the Halloween festivities.
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visitors → say → festivities
'We had hundreds of people come by, then thousands.
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hundreds → have → people
Now I have to have enough candy for at least 5,000 people on Halloween,' she said.
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she → have → Halloween
Her next-door neighbour, Lakshmi, said they had no complaints about the decorations.
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they → say → decorations
'We love it.
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We → love → it
It's [been] happening every year for the past few years and we always go and support them,' they said.
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they → happen → them
Ms Naylor-Liddell's emotional plea sparked an outpouring of support online, with many locals rallying behind her and warning any move to stop the display would disappoint countless children.
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move → spark → children
Ms Naylor-Liddell said the attraction had grown from hundreds of visitors to thousands each year
Her emotional plea sparked an outpouring of support online, with many locals warning any move to stop the display would disappoint countless children
'
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move → say → children
This is going to break so many kids' hearts,' one person wrote.
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person → go → hearts
One user described the council's stance as 'un-Australian', while another suggested the council should focus on more pressing local issues.
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council → describe → issues
You have a Karen living in your neighbourhood.
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You → have → neighbourhood
I will be there to support you,' a social media comment read.
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comment → support → you
A Camden Council spokesperson disputed the suggestion Ms Naylor-Liddell had been prevented from continuing the attraction, telling the Daily Mail the display could go ahead this year and the family was welcome to discuss future arrangements.
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family → dispute → arrangements
'The activity has been operating without the appropriate checks and approvals being in place,' the spokesperson said.
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spokesperson → operate → place
'Council has advised the family that the display is not being stopped from proceeding this coming weekend.
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display → advise → family
'However, if the family wishes to run the activity in future years, they will need to contact Council to discuss the appropriate approval pathway and work through any necessary checks and approvals before proceeding.'
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they → wish → checks
The spokesperson said the council welcomed opportunities for the community to come together, provided they were organised safely, responsibly and in line with relevant requirements.
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they → say → requirements
A Camden Council spokesperson disputed suggestions the attraction had been shut down, saying it could proceed this year and the family was welcome to discuss future arrangements
'When activities grow to a scale that has the potential to affect public spaces and surrounding residents, it's important that the appropriate approvals and requirements are in place,' they said.
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they → dispute → place
'These processes help ensure the activities are safe, well-managed and considerate of the wider community, including matters such as traffic and pedestrian safety, noise and amenity impacts, food vendors, security and impacts on neighbours.
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activities → help → neighbours
'
'This matter is not about Halloween decorations versus other decorations – it relates to the organised tours associated with the activity and the need to ensure everything meets the appropriate planning, safety and approval requirements,' they said.
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they → relate → requirements
The spokesperson said the council's role was to apply the requirements fairly and proportionately, while working with organisers to help them understand their responsibilities.
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them → say → responsibilities
'Council is happy to work with residents and community organisers to help them understand the requirements and deliver fun, safe activities across Camden,' they said.
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they → work → Camden
'Residents planning future displays or activities are encouraged to contact Council early to discuss their plans and determine whether any approvals are required.'
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approvals → plan → plans
The Aporia
