House That! Ex-Nedlands Mayor Fiona Argyle sells house for $2.9m, blames neighbours for ‘destroying’ privacy

Sacked Nedlands mayor Fiona Argyle has sold her Nedlands property as a development site, blaming neighbours who built next door for “destroying” her privacy. Argyle sold the 1012sqm Kinninmont Avenue block for $2.9 million last month, with an advert that promised a “compelling blank canvas” for a “sought-after development offering”. Speaking while abroad yesterday, Ms Argyle said she sold the property — which included the separate sale of the weatherboard house structure — because her family did not want to live with the neighbouring home looking into her children’s bedrooms. “They destroyed our privacy,” she told House That!. She maintained the neighbouring house was an overdevelopment — a claim she made regularly during a year-long battle to prevent construction — because it did not strictly comply with the R Codes. But she rejected claims that it was a bit rich to play up the density potential in an appeal to developers, and at odds with her highly-publicised stance on promoting green space. Her property advert highlighted in-principal approval for three lots and the capacity to “increase the density significantly” under the R60 zoning, which would allow the block to be carved into six 150sqm lots. “The choice is yours as to how far you subdivide and how you develop the site,” the advert said. But Ms Argyle yesterday said the advert spoke only about what could be achieved under the planning code. Her fight against the neighbours, however, was over breaching aspects of that code. “I know it sounds ironic but (the advert discusses what is possible under) the planning laws,” she said. “That is the zoning of the block, and the people who bought it can build what they want with it.” Back in 2022, the Argyle-led council rejected plans for the neighbouring home, despite advice from city planning staff that they should approve it. Councillors again refused the application months later after the design was altered during mediation. Ms Argyle had recused herself from voting due to her interest, but it was revealed she had texted a councillor who spoke in favour of the neighbour’s application that her comments were “appalling”. Argyle then applied to intervene as an interested third party when her neighbours took the matter to the State Administrative Tribunal, but her request was rejected. Taking the battle to epic proportions, she then appealed the SAT decision in the Supreme Court, but again failed, with the neighbours securing the right to build. Yesterday she said the failed bid had cost her $90,000 in legal fees. The council also had a costly legal bill of $30,000, while the neighbours had complained of their expenses too. At the time, Ms Argyle tole The West Australian it was her duty to fight. “The Mayor should be setting the example,” she told The West Australian at the time. “If I do not have the courage to defend my home from over-development and non-compliance, then what does that signal to the other people in the City of Nedlands?” Ms Argyle said. The family will move into another home in the city of Nedlands.