Hoarding and squalor-impacted properties could cost Gunnedah Shire Council more than $80,000 to clean up.
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At Wednesday's meeting, councillors voted to allocate $20,460 from the council's general fund to clean-up 65 Hopedale Avenue, and an additional $60,000 to clean-up 120 and 122 Bloomfield Street and and other affected properties identified by the council.
The council launched legal proceedings in the NSW Land and Environment Court against Steven Taylor the owner/occupier of 65 Hopedale Avenue in April 2019.
A local government order was served to Mr Taylor in December 2018 to slash all vegetation and dispose of it lawfully and to remove all accumulated waste stored outside buildings and structures on the premises and dispose of that waste lawfully.
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In June this year, the NSW Land and Environment Court granted Orders by Consent as sought by the council, which has since inspected the property with potential contractors to prepare a scope of works and get quotes for clean-up.
"Under the terms of the court order, council can recover all associated costs from Mr Taylor in any court of competent jurisdiction," council's planning and environmental services director Andrew Johns wrote in the business papers.
"This hoarding and squalor case has played out over several years and the removing and disposing of waste from the property is the final act prior to any debt recovery process."
This hoarding and squalor case has played out over several years and the removing and disposing of waste from the property is the final act prior to any debt recovery process.
- Andrew Johns, Gunnedah Shire Council
The council is yet to gain an order to enter the Bloomfield Street properties so "it is difficult to estimate cost".
"Both properties are significantly larger in size to 65 Hopedale Ave and both contain significantly more vegetation and larger items of waste including motor vehicles," Mr Johns wrote.
Cr Ann Luke congratulated the staff on "getting a win and moving through this particularly unpleasant, nasty situation for everyone".
Cr Owen Hasler said it was "a good outcome" but he was concerned that the situation would reoccur and questioned "how to get the message out to people".