Nov 23 2008

Tasmanian Council Evicting 81 Year Old Veteran and Wife

We are taught as kids that Silence is Golden, but as adults we discover that Silence is Apathy.

I recently learned that a bullying council in Tasmania is attempting to throw a couple in their 80’s out of their home.

Richard and Joan Bridge are in their final years of life and are being placed under enormous stress by the Officers of Waratah -Wynyard Council who claim parts of their home are illegally constructed. Council is seeking to evict this 81 year old veteran. It didn’t stop the council allowing titles to change hands when the Bridges purchased the place years ago.

I have attached the Bridge’s letter to the Tasmanian Ombudsman.
Mr Bridge is an ex serviceman who has served Australia. NOW HE NEEDS OUR HELP.

I have also attached some email addresses for parties who can influence this disgraceful affair.

Continue reading to get these contact details of this dispicable, council flood them with emails and phone calls on behalf of this old digger and his wife under council attack….

Mr Bridges Letter To The Ombusman

My wife and I consider we have been dealt with in the most unconscionable way by Waratah-Wynyard Council, over the matter of the alleged illegal status of our home.

We do not have the financial resources to mount even the simplest counter claim against the resources they have, which includes the rates we have paid them for a home they say does not exist.

We may live in a modest cottage, but it seems this is no longer allowed in Tasmania at least. Our cottage has been in existence for a very long time.

We knew it had deficiencies, but we were assured that these were of no concern to council, and that the status quo would be maintained. It was not until we made application to build a toilet, that we raised the ire of council officers.

Our home has been lived in by a number of previous tenants, and we have proof of that. It is clearly listed on the Valuer Generals records, is not on class 1 agricultural land as stated by council and even if it were, that alone would not preclude the presence of the cottage.

We have been harassed by council officers. We have had them arrive unannounced, and act in a most intimidating way. They have breached our privacy, and no matter what we try to do to get them to see our way, they will not discuss it.

As a couple living on the Veterans’ Affairs pension, at the very end of our lives, we are becoming sick with worry over this matter and need the most urgent intervention to stop once and for all the bullying of council officers.

Our complaint would need to have the most intense attention of a legal authority. As the media spotlight has focused on our plight we have become aware of others, including council staff who have also fallen foul of the bullying attitude of some councillors and staff.

We have come to the belief that there is a hidden agenda behind council’s drive to get us off the property.

Past 80 years of age, we can hardly be a threat to them, however if we did to them what they have done to us, we would be in prison.

Richard Bridge.
Joan Helen Bridge.

Cr. Kevin Hyland was elected to Waratah-Wynyard Council in April 1999 and elected Mayor in October 2005. He is semi-retired and is involved in a number of community organisations – lets get him organise to assist 80 year old Mr Butler and his wife and get onto that Gestapo section of his council ratbags.
Home: 03 6442 2305
Mobile: 0409 420 302
Council Office: 03 6443 8302
Email: khyland@warwyn.tas.gov.au

After you have let the Mayor that commands this Gestapo run council just what you think of how they treat our senior people, not to mention a returned from active service veteran who is 81 years old, get on to these others that need a kick along the path of good old Aussie mateship as it was all about, totally stifled by these elected government dictators.

The Advocate Newspaper- is well read in the area,
Email: letters@theadvocate.com.au

Sid Sidebottoms office , Federal Minister for us
Email: Kay.Eastley@aph.gov.au

Minister for Planning and Local Government, Jim Cox
Email: Jen.Butler@dpac.tas.gov.au

and of course the bloody council which is Waratah-Wynyard
Email: council@warwyn.tas.gov.au

By admin • Aged Pensions, General, Government, Private Land Issues •