A Tomerong resident has been found in contempt for court and now has a bill of more than $175,000 after he failed to demolish a house built without development consent.
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In a judgment handed down by the Land and Environment Court on Monday, September 30 the court found Garry John Knight in contempt of court and ordered him to pay council's legal and clean-up costs.
The court found that sometime before 2015 Mr Knight built a house on Invermay Avenue in Tomerong without development consent being granted by Shoalhaven City Council.
Orders were made in September 2014 requiring Mr Knight to demolish the house and remove a garden shed, water tank, clothes line, cubby house and wastewater and sewerage systems within 12 months. He was also required to move two vehicles, a boat, camper and car trailer within six months.
In November 2018 Shoalhaven City Council sought to have Mr Knight punished for contempt after he failed to demolish the building and remove most of the items.
After finding him guilty, the judge decided not to impose a sentence for the contempt of court finding. Justice Moore said "his personal circumstances do provide some insight as to why this [contempt] occurred" noting his unemployment and need to address substance abuse.
The court ordered that Mr Knight pay $17,270 for the cost of council to remove the house and structures and was liable to pay $158,387 for council's legal bills. He was fined $1,000 contempt of court.
Read more:Crime/Court
Stuart Thomson
Journalist at the South Coast Register.
Journalist at the South Coast Register.
