After a highly publicised three-month battle with the Sunshine Coast Council over an unauthorised campsite on his property, a dairy farmer has at least partially admitted defeat.
Under the threat of a $180,000 fine, Shane Paulger has submitted a development application to formalise his farm-stay campground which has been supplementing the income from his farming business. The Sunshine Coast Daily says the application for a material change of use for a nature-based tourism camping grounds will set the farmer back $50,000 for 20 regular approved campsites and an event allowance for up to 100 campsites for five long weekends a year.
Mr Paulger, who has kidney problems, said his wellbeing dictated he let the issue go.
“I’ve felt a lot of pressure from the council and it’s severely impacted on my health, I was really stressed about that $180,000 fine,” he told the Sunshine Coast Daily. “I heard on the grapevine that they were going to make an example of me … I’m pretty frustrated with it all but my wife said we had to put up the money because of the stress.”
However, he insists that there are some issues he will still fight the council on.
“They’re requiring us to put amenity blocks in a flood zone – that’s not going to happen,” he said. “We don’t want to change it, we want to keep it as natural as possible.”
The Sunshine Coast Council dismissed Mr Paulger’s claims believes that it was not supporting the farming community.
“Council is very supportive of farmers looking to diversify their activities as a means to help sustain the traditional agricultural uses of their property,” a council spokesman told the Sunshine Coast Daily. “However, like any property owner in Queensland, if the intention is to conduct a business on the property that is not the same as the existing approved use, then the property owner must obtain the appropriate development approval from council.”
This is ridiculous, why can’t this man do what he wants on his land. The red tape has once again affected a person just trying to make a living. This council should be ashamed of themselves, but they sit in their ivory tower dispensing regulations. They earn good money and have no idea what it’s like to try to make a property make a profit. I say, leave this man alone!!
This council is no different from any other council in Australia – primarily interested in extorting money from people be it through fines or fees for so-called services. The existence of the local government level is the greatest travesty of Australian government system.
This really gives me the sh*ts where do they get the figure of $50000 fee for 20 campsites what are they going to do for the money what services will the council supply? Nothing but a money grab
And I thought SA was the “Red Tape” state.
Bureaucrasy wanting to control our lives AGAIN .Sick of them get off your highhorses and listen to real the people who make a difference in this great country.
The council is treating this like a caravan park. In effect $2500 per campsite. I wonder how much they charged the Kennilworth Showgrounds for camping there? Does anyone know?
Maybe he can crowd fund it.
Over regulated to buggery. Council needs to stop this crap. Just money grabbing to ensure their pay rises.
Real smart on council to want sewer in a flood zone. Bet they cry foul when the river in full of shit