Thanks all for responding. There are too many now to respond to all. Thanks annette, your posts are on the money as far as i am know at this point. I haven't read your links though yet. I was thinking if they told me i had to move out, that i'd be visiting the local member or asking for legal help somewhere i guess. I think the neighbour made the complaint before i tried to make amends. Don't forget it was two weeks before I found out she was pissed off with me. IT was two days after that when i attempted to patch things up. And then the next day the council came out. The council guy was quite pleasant and seemed sympathetic actually. But i phoned up today for an answer and he said someone else was handling it now. It doesn't sound good. Someone who is looking into the law and so i expect i will get a letter with legalese in it. I'm wondering if because I haven't got kitchen or bathroom facilities if they have any grounds really. I mean what's the difference between a shed and a caravan really. Especially since as far as i know its not illegal to actually have a caravan on your block. Its just not legal to live in it.
g'day sun burn, when we had our temp house a caravan under a much kinder council down here we told them we went to a local garage for showers as did many others, we had a gas plate to cook on and a basin to wash dishes, we bought water for our 5k/l tank, they where fine with that, and there was no sunset clause. we bought one of those old metal thunder boxes they used to hire out and all was good. len
I checked out the constitution. There is no reference to local governments but the states have the right to delegate to local governments via a State Act. Don't know the legalities of what that means, but I would figure local laws are legal. I know a lot of local governments will do anything not to go to court as it takes up too many resources, especially the smaller councils. Let us know how you go Sunburn.
Well the council told me I can stop worrying. To cut a long story short, I just phoned them up and spoke to the guy who's handling my problem. I told him all the details and he said well we haven't made a decision yet. And to stop worrying. I've taken this to mean that they are not going to make a negative decision. Dad suggested yesterday that they might just put it in the too hard basket. From a legal perspective, its possible that because we already have a permit for a temporary dwelling that my van could be included under that permit. I told the guy there were no hygiene issues to worry about as i have a proper bathroom and kitchen to use. I think explaining the sequence of events between when the complaint was made and the council visit would help him even to put a decision off indefinitely. Or at least unless the woman made another anonymous phone call. I mean if she is really still not happy with the situation and still wants to make a mess, she would probably have to keep harassing them. I don't think she will now since i've given her the plant etc. Thanks people for your support.
Hi All, I imagine that with the age of this thread that the issue has been resolved, but for future incidences of this sort of thing, here is some information that you may be able to wield. (1) The 1988 referendum asking if local councils should be a third tier of government, was determined in the negative. SO COUNCILS ARE NOT GOV. and have no authority to make law. (2) Julia Gillard suggested a referendum "to make councils legal" the inference here is that they are not legal at the moment.No referendum was conducted so the status quo is/was maintained. (3) Research the Queensland Public Service act 2008 (still current as of 2016). look at division 4 section 24 paragraph 2, wherein the question is asked "what is NOT a government department"........the first answer is local government, so:- local councils are nothing more than corporations masquerading as government with no more authority to make law than Coles or Hungry Jacks. ALWAYS CHALLENGE THE LAW, NOT THE CHARGE.
