Aitken hit by a fourth wee bill

AN ill homeless man’s battle with Gold Coast City Council over access to a public toilet block has escalated – he’s copped a fourth fine and is looking to move to Victoria.

Graeme Aitken, 66, has now accrued $2668 in fines since August last year for parking his van near the Burleigh Beach public toilets. The spot provides safe 24-hour access to a toilet facility so Mr Aitken can manage a debilitating bladder condition.

He strongly disputes council’s claims they have offered to assist by connecting him with homeless support services.

Instead, Mr Aitken said he and his dog Duke were startled at 5am two Sundays back by a council officer who issued a new $667 fine for illegal camping.

“They haven’t offered any help. They have fined me over $2000,” he said.

Mr Aitken said he tried to contest the first two infringement notices but was yet to hear back from council, whom he said had already sent the first infringement to State Penalties Enforcement Registry (SPER). SPER incurs an additional administration fee.

“I thought they were supposed to inform you before a fine went to SPER because I’ve had no call back,” he said

With few options left and faced with an agonising wait for surgery, a fed-up Mr Aitken said he was now assessing legal options and a potential move interstate.

“I want to find out if the laws the council are using to fine me are legal or otherwise,” he said.

“If a lawyer can’t help me then I won’t just stay here. I’ll have to go to Victoria to get my health issues fixed. The health system is stuffed in Queensland.”

Mr Aitken said he was parking up at Burleigh Beach until about 1am “which is when I have to go to the toilet, and then I take off because I won’t need to go again until about 4am, then I just come back to Burleigh”.

“My health’s going down quickly, and I need a bit of help from the council so I can get through this.

“I just want to be left alone, stop knocking on my door between two and five in the morning, I haven’t had a decent night’s sleep in years.”

A council spokesperson said: “City officers have tried numerous times over a number of months to connect Mr Aitken with support agencies that can provide accommodation and assistance with his condition.”

In response to a question about fining him at 5am on a Sunday, the spokesperson said: “The City is obliged to respond to complaints and in this situation, it received a number of complaints.”