Breaking News
Council says sorry for DA home bungle
Chelsea White
9 May 2008
MANLY'S development application process is being subjected to an internal investigation after a neighbourhood dispute escalated into accusations of bullying and mismanagement.
Balgowlah resident and property owner Jarrod Bowditch is at the centre of the row between one of his neighbours and now Manly Council.
The comedy of errors that led to the investigation started in 2004, when Mr Bowditch received approval for a subdivision at 20 Ernest St putting him and his neighbour at loggerheads.
That same year Manly Mayor Peter Macdonald publicly accused Mr Bowditch of illegally removing trees, but no charges were laid.
Then, in November last year, Mr Bowditch applied to build a swimming pool and to remove a large angophora tree to make way for a driveway. After waiting more than 120 days, a council officer handed Mr Bowditch an approval letter. However, when Mr Bowditch questioned errors in the letter, it was discovered Cr Macdonald had called for the issue to be dealt with at a council meeting. The approval was overturned.
To prove he had been given approval, Mr Bowditch put in a freedom of information request for the council's CCTV footage. The council refused to hand over the footage, but did officially apologise and has now vowed to investigate.
"A review of administrative process is now under way with the aim of preventing further occurrence of these types of errors," the apology, written by then deputy general manager Stephen Clements, said.
Mr Bowditch's plans were finally approved on Monday night after two hours of council debate.
Deputy mayor Mark Norek said:
"There is an axe to grind here and I have never been so bored in my life to talk about a tree."
We welcome your comments on this story. Comments are submitted for possible publication on the condition that they may be edited. Please provide your full name. We also require a working email address - not for publication, but for verification. The location field is optional. Read our publication guidelines.
Submit your feedback here:
- Teacher sacked for posing nude
- Sausage glass: pet owners panic
- Ex-cop denies 'rip-off'
- Change to bus route worries travellers
- Renting for lifestyle
- Correction
- Shhh! Orchestra in training
- Council says sorry for DA home bungle
- 'No plastics' plan catches on up north
- Miller greets media frenzy
- Council war on graffiti
- Local who has four Arias, with more to come
- Pile-up caused by drink- driver
- Just one more job for busy Lizzie
- Residents in night search for pet baits
- Hole lotta mystery going on
- Baird pays $260,000 to take seat
- Man faces court over home attack
- Netball home option gets joint support
- Who could be so heartless?
