Footballing power couple Cooper Cronk and Tara Rushton are embroiled in a council row with their neighbour over privacy fears sparked by a multi-million pound renovation.
The former Melbourne Storm and Sydney Roosters star and his Ten Sports presenter wife complained that the $3.7 million upgrade to the house next door would give their neighbour a direct view into their children’s bedrooms.
The proposed works included a new swimming pool, an outdoor terrace and landscaping, but Cronk and Rushton expressed concern that this would expose their children to prying eyes.
And they warned it would also give their children a clear view of their neighbours’ home in the upmarket Georges Heights, with a stunning view of Sydney Harbour.
“Privacy is a two-way street and I’m sure you wouldn’t want our young children looking directly into your living areas from their bedrooms either,” Cronk told the council.
Cronk and Rushton’s proposal was one of two made in response to the development application. Their primary concern was privacy issues, but there were also secondary concerns about power cuts during development.
“We noted that the layout of the house orients the doors and windows in the kitchen and upstairs living and dining areas to look directly onto our property,” Cronk wrote.
“As a result, we believe a direct privacy issue is created between the two properties.”
Cooper Cronk and Tara Rushton are in a neighborhood dispute over a house renovation
The former Melbourne Storm star and his sports presenter wife complained that the $3.7 million upgrade to the house next door would give their neighbour a direct view into their children’s bedrooms.
The couple were also concerned that the renovations could disrupt their electricity supply with the removal of a utility pole to bury wiring underground.
In a surprising admission, the high-profile couple, both with lucrative media jobs, admitted they mostly work from home rather than going into the office.
“We understand that carrying out these works will be an inconvenience to the operation of our facility,” Cronk wrote.
‘My wife and I work from home with non-negotiable deadlines and we need our electricity to be available.’
The development application is now set to be approved after changes were made to the plans in response to complaints to the council.
Cronk, 40, retired from the NRL in 2019 after appearing in a record three consecutive grand final games.
He currently works as a commentator on Fox Sports, as well as an advisor to a wealth management firm.
Tara, 37, is the lead football presenter on Network 10 and Paramount+.
The soccer couple, who married in 2017, have two sons, Lennox and Harley, and purchased the architecturally designed home in 2022 for $8.75 million.
The couple live in the $8.75 million home on Sydney’s North Shore.
This luxurious apartment is an entertainer’s dream, featuring a spacious patio, well-kept outdoor patio areas, and a pool.
In April, one of Cronk’s neighbours submitted plans to Mosman City Council for a $3.7 million upgrade to his home, including a new swimming pool and outdoor terrace.
The couple believes there is a direct privacy issue created between the two properties.
This luxurious apartment is an entertainer’s dream, with a spacious patio, well-kept outdoor patio areas and a pool.
The property also features four bedrooms, a fireplace in the living room and impressive floor-to-ceiling glass windows.
In July 2021, Cooper and Tara sold their four-bedroom, two-bathroom family home in Mosman for around $5 million.
The couple had previously successfully applied to Mosman City Council in 2019 for an investment of almost $900,000 in renovations to the property.
The development was approved without any complaints from residents to the council about the plan.