This mum-and-son duo has been stranded in their home after an unknown deal! What happened?
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Imagine living in your dream home nestled in the picturesque landscapes of regional New South Wales.
This was the case for a mum and her son, who used to live in peace until they found themselves stranded on their property.
What exactly happened that led them to this situation?
This was the bewildering case of Dale and Micah Phillips, a family of two who have called their Tarana property their home for 17 years.
Their peaceful existence was upended by a bizarre twist involving the very roads that lead to their home.
When the Phillips purchased their property, they were assured access via two 'paper' or 'Crown roads'—routes that are recognised on maps yet may not be developed.
The tranquillity of their rural life was shattered when one of these vital access roads was sold by the NSW Government to a neighbour without their knowledge.
The other road, which was in a state of disrepair, was deemed unsafe by the Lithgow City Council.
Restoration efforts for the road may need $250,000.
Dale, who is vision impaired, and her son Micah found themselves in a precarious position.
'I even got a bulldozer to do it myself, but got a hard no from Crown Lands,' Ms Phillips recounted as she expressed her frustration with the situation.
In a bid for normalcy, the Phillips resorted to driving across a neighbour's cow paddock to reach their home.
This makeshift solution was far from ideal, as rainy weather would render the paddock too slippery for passage.
'We don't go out,' Ms Phillips lamented as she highlighted how they get isolated during intense weather conditions.
The situation reached a critical point when an emergency struck their home.
Ms Phillips had to call the State Emergency Service for help after her son blacked out from a medical condition.
The ambulance could not access their property due to the inaccessible roads, which underscored the life-threatening consequences of their predicament.
'It was so scary that day,' she said, pleading for a resolution.
Now, even the neighbour has decided to restrict access through the paddock.
This decision left the mother and son without any viable options.
Their ongoing struggle prompted Dale to lobby state Lands and Property Minister Stephen Kamper to intervene.
She compelled the council to acquire the unsafe track and repair it.
Watch Dale and Micah Phillips' story here:
Source: A Current Affair/YouTube
In a promising development, the minister's department agreed to transfer the access track from state Crown land to the local council's jurisdiction.
'Crown Lands has been working with Ms Phillips, her solicitor and Lithgow City Council to find alternative solutions for her to legally and practically access her property,' the department's statement read.
'Crown Lands will initiate a transfer of the Crown road corridor to Lithgow City Council to provide a solution for Ms Phillips.'
However, the council pushed back and argued that it should not bear the financial burden of the upgrade.
Instead, they requested permission from Crown Lands to let Ms Phillips repair the road at her own expense.
'If this is approved, we will work with the resident to discuss the scope of work and how this might be funded,' Lithgow City Council stated.
Ms Phillips has considered selling her house to escape this predicament, but she also faces the harsh reality that the property's value is severely diminished without proper access.
'Who would buy a home without a driveway?' she asked, frustrated with her situation.
In response to the public outcry, Minister Kamper assured that his department had already taken note of Ms Phillips's concerns.
'I have instructed the department to initiate the transfer of land to Lithgow City Council to deliver a solution, as the relevant roads authority in the area,' he stated in an interview.
The Phillips' ordeal should be a reminder of the challenges that could arise from government actions.
As the Phillips await a resolution, their story should be a cautionary tale for those living in similar circumstances.
Have you or someone you know ever faced a similar situation as the Phillips? How was it resolved? Share your experiences and stories in the comments below, and let's discuss the importance of secure access to our homes.
This was the case for a mum and her son, who used to live in peace until they found themselves stranded on their property.
What exactly happened that led them to this situation?
This was the bewildering case of Dale and Micah Phillips, a family of two who have called their Tarana property their home for 17 years.
Their peaceful existence was upended by a bizarre twist involving the very roads that lead to their home.
When the Phillips purchased their property, they were assured access via two 'paper' or 'Crown roads'—routes that are recognised on maps yet may not be developed.
The tranquillity of their rural life was shattered when one of these vital access roads was sold by the NSW Government to a neighbour without their knowledge.
Micah (left) and his mum, Dale (right) have been stranded in their home after an unexpected update. Image Credit: YouTube/A Current Affair
The other road, which was in a state of disrepair, was deemed unsafe by the Lithgow City Council.
Restoration efforts for the road may need $250,000.
Dale, who is vision impaired, and her son Micah found themselves in a precarious position.
'I even got a bulldozer to do it myself, but got a hard no from Crown Lands,' Ms Phillips recounted as she expressed her frustration with the situation.
In a bid for normalcy, the Phillips resorted to driving across a neighbour's cow paddock to reach their home.
This makeshift solution was far from ideal, as rainy weather would render the paddock too slippery for passage.
'We don't go out,' Ms Phillips lamented as she highlighted how they get isolated during intense weather conditions.
The situation reached a critical point when an emergency struck their home.
Ms Phillips had to call the State Emergency Service for help after her son blacked out from a medical condition.
The ambulance could not access their property due to the inaccessible roads, which underscored the life-threatening consequences of their predicament.
'It was so scary that day,' she said, pleading for a resolution.
Now, even the neighbour has decided to restrict access through the paddock.
This decision left the mother and son without any viable options.
Their ongoing struggle prompted Dale to lobby state Lands and Property Minister Stephen Kamper to intervene.
She compelled the council to acquire the unsafe track and repair it.
Watch Dale and Micah Phillips' story here:
Source: A Current Affair/YouTube
In a promising development, the minister's department agreed to transfer the access track from state Crown land to the local council's jurisdiction.
'Crown Lands has been working with Ms Phillips, her solicitor and Lithgow City Council to find alternative solutions for her to legally and practically access her property,' the department's statement read.
'Crown Lands will initiate a transfer of the Crown road corridor to Lithgow City Council to provide a solution for Ms Phillips.'
However, the council pushed back and argued that it should not bear the financial burden of the upgrade.
Instead, they requested permission from Crown Lands to let Ms Phillips repair the road at her own expense.
'If this is approved, we will work with the resident to discuss the scope of work and how this might be funded,' Lithgow City Council stated.
Ms Phillips has considered selling her house to escape this predicament, but she also faces the harsh reality that the property's value is severely diminished without proper access.
'Who would buy a home without a driveway?' she asked, frustrated with her situation.
In response to the public outcry, Minister Kamper assured that his department had already taken note of Ms Phillips's concerns.
'I have instructed the department to initiate the transfer of land to Lithgow City Council to deliver a solution, as the relevant roads authority in the area,' he stated in an interview.
The Phillips' ordeal should be a reminder of the challenges that could arise from government actions.
As the Phillips await a resolution, their story should be a cautionary tale for those living in similar circumstances.
