From The Star
KOROROIT Creek boatshed owners have been given an ultimatum by Hobsons Bay City Council — sign up or ship out.
After only two of the 14 boatshed owners signed the three-year licence agreement to remain on the site, the council has directed others to reconsider before 23 March.
In a letter to owners at Kororoit Creek Fishing Village it states that failure to sign the agreement by 23 March “may result in notification for you to vacate the site and remove all improvements and possessions”.
The licences, originally to be signed by 22 January, define uses and activities allowed at the site, require grey water and septic systems to be disconnected to protect the creek and outlines site holders’ rights.
Allison McAdam, Boatshed Owners Association of Port Phillip Bay and Victoria president, said she would never sign and would physically protest against any eviction.
“Good luck in trying to get rid of me — I will padlock myself to the front of the shed,” she said.
“That is my family history down there and they’re not going to move me or my family.”
Ms McAdam said boatshed owners had been advised by lawyers that they “would be mad” to sign the agreements.
“They (council) are saying that after three-years goes by we will have the first right of renewal if they choose to give it to us,” she said.
“And it states the licence can be changed at any point in time.
“Who would sign it?”
She said the boatshed owners would consider taking legal action against the council if they were removed from the sheds.
“They are trying to say we have no tenancy rights but we have paid rates and fees for decades,” she said.
Hobsons Bay mayor Leigh Hardinge said it was unfortunate the situation had “deteriorated so dramatically” but the boatshed owners were breaking planning controls.
“The council has been extremely lenient with site holders, particularly as residential occupation of the boatsheds is contrary to the planning scheme and the intent of the original permission to use the sites,” Cr Hardinge said.
Williamstown North Ward councillor Peter Hemphill said the council’s request was “fair and reasonable” and aimed to protect the environment.
“The council wants the fishing village to be cleaned up and kept tidy,” he said.
“We also want to stop grey water and sewerage from entering Kororoit Creek and Port Phillip Bay and reduce the risk of loose materials being flushed out into the bay during flash floods.”
Late last year local boatshed owners were celebrating a Magistrates’ Court decision that said Wyndham City Council could not force Campbells Cove boatshed owner Duncan Colbron to remove or vacate his property for refusing to sign a three-year licence.
Ms McAdam said the Kororoit Creek Fishing Village boatshed owners were considering similar action.
“We have been told we can certainly do that,” said Ms McAdam.
“We will fight this.”
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