Perched high above the ground, the classic weatherboard 'Queenslander' house with decorative timber cladding would have views out across the Brisbane River. Instead it is temporarily aloft, as part of an elaborate home renovation job to comply with strict council rules in the area. It highlights the costly requirements and restrictions that can delay housing completions and make new builds increasingly expensive, those in the building industry say. "The whole process is an absolute farce and it's just blocking people making modern homes, for current needs. The cost of the impressive element of the renovation could add as much as $800,000.