Warning signs all there for damage

Avid readers of your journal would have well understood the concerns of Mr and Mrs Tammes over the nature of the development of the old Hill’s Nursery site adjoining their house property.

A good number of articles and letters over time have described in some detail their concerns, from the time of the consideration by the Baw Baw Shire Council of the original application to develop the property, to, most recently, the damage to their property as a consequence of the earthworks being carried out as part of the development.

To say that they had loudly fore-warned of the likelihood of such damage would be an understatement.

Council officers have, in the past, dismissed all and any concerns saying the works are in accord with the validly issued permit.

Mayor Joe Gauci’s response to the damage was to say “the council had no legal responsibility”, and that “it’s a civil matter between the Tammes and the developer”.

What arrant nonsense! If you have not seen the nature of the development works being undertaken, take a drive along Sutton St between Bowen St and Brandy Creek Rd and have a good look at the earthworks as they are at the present time.

Leaving aside the question of the appropriateness of that sort of development on that site, council had not anticipated the immensity of the works and its impact on adjoining owners beggars belief.

To suggest the Tammes “inform their insurance company and take some photos” is nothing short of insulting.

One would be excused for thinking Cr Gauci has been instructed by the council’s insurers and lawyers to admit nothing, concede nothing, not to be seen to be too helpful, do nothing which might make it look like as if council has some responsibility, and do not do anything to aggravate the matter.

To my mind, Cr Gauci has succeeded magnificently in following his instructions, save for the last; in that regard Cr Gauci has made himself look weak and uncaring.

If anything is likely to inflame a situation, a mayor seen in that light will certainly do so.

Cr Gauci has squandered a great opportunity to demonstrate real leadership and to show he is prepared to stand-up for someone who clearly has been wronged, albeit, no doubt, having to admit along the way the council might not have been as good as it could have been in the way it dealt with the development application and its consideration of the associated interests of the adjoining owners.

What a pity. Wayne Hardie, Warragul car off the road then helped me up and prop me up against a shop window. She then left and brought us some cold water. The lovely florist from Momento florist took me inside her beautiful cool shop, sat me down and looked after me until a friend, Lyn, took me to her home and cared for me despite her family’s needs.

The RACV attended and our poor old car went to Warragul on a truck.

Lyn took me to the hotel where Bruce was, we had a couple of drinks, ate at the Chinese restaurant, then took the 7.45pm train to Bairnsdale where a kind friend met us at 10.15 and drove us home.

And Lardner Mechanical drove our car home to us when it was fixed, how kind.

Thank you Drouin for your many kind gestures. Helen and Bruce Jennings, Paynesville.