Agent condemns law New rule ‘a waste of resources’
A HIGHLY respected voice in the Townsville real estate scene has slammed the council’s new law to target unsightly buildings around the city.
The council announced earlier this week a proposed new law to fine building owners as much as $26,000 for dilapidated structures.
Explore Property commercial real estate executive Jason Barrett took aim at the proposal, saying it was a waste of resources.
“They first spoke about it in 2007 and then rolled it out again last year,” he said.
“I wrote to the mayor’s office and asked why they wouldn’t use what’s already available.
“They should be using the tools they have; it would be far more efficient.
“They should work on their existing by-laws ... instead of wasting time and money by creating a new one.
“It’s just more red tape, more bureaucracy. They make new laws but never allocate appropriate resources to them.”
Mr Barrett said the proposed law was “very reactive” and wouldn’t solve the problem it was attempting to address.
“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. How will they decide what’s dilapidated and what’s not?” he said.
“They could get countersued – it’s a lawyer’s dream.”
Mr Barrett said there were probably 150 buildings in Townsville that needed a facelift, but there was a bigger issue at hand than aesthetic appeal.
“Safety and security should come first, long before presentation and appearance,” he said.
“There’s buildings with asbestos around which have been like that for 10 years.
“There’s massive regulation around asbestos and the responsibility lies with the council and they’ve done nothing. There’s places around that are a disgrace.”
Mr Barrett said buildings in the CBD were only in the crosshairs because the council was located there.
“Why create a by-law for something that only affects 150 buildings out of 80 or 90,000 buildings in Townsville? It seems to be a waste,” he said.
“Owner mentality will come into it. If they comply with safety laws their buildings will look better as well.
“The ones not complying with other laws have probably let their buildings slip.”
The proposed law has been modelled on similar regulations introduced in Brisbane to clean up Fortitude Valley.