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Wednesday 26 February, 2020 THE WEEKLY TIMES 19

Concord West graduate makes Fined builder seeks exemption

a large splash at Sydney Water to protect the Lane Cove River

Ryde builder Ivan Elek took photographs of work being
done on his drive to show how steep it is and how sand
and silt would be washed into the Lane Cove River unless
the site was secured.

A NORTH RYDE builder fined $6,000 for work he said he did to protect the environment has called
for special exemptions to state legislation.
Ivan Elek was hit with the Protection Officer states tion measures to be carried an attempt to build a path-
fine in November last year that an inspection on Tues- out. way to allow works vehicles
for work he insists he car- day, November 5 revealed “If there was a sign up at to access the site – despite
ried out to stop sand and that a new driveway con- the driveway giving me an the Stop Work Order – Mr
silt being washed from a struction had been com- exemption to do work to Elek insists it was not.
driveway works site into the menced including excava- stop the silt from the drive- He also revealed that he
Lane Cove River. tion at the property, despite way running off into the had been fined for parking a
The work was found to a Stop Work Order in place river I would not have been truck in proximity to a road-
breach a Stop Work Order and after several verbal in- fined and the river would be way marking.
the City of Ryde Council structions by council offic- protected,” he said. “It has been there parked
had placed on the prop- ers to stop building works. Mr Elek said he sees nu- regularly since Septem-
erty at 257 Pittwater Road, “I assume council offic- merous examples where ber 2018 when we started
which Mr Elek insists he has ers had to act, but the only work has stopped at build- building,” he said.
otherwise complied with. work done on the actual ing sites across Ryde and “I now have permission
“Work was stopped on the building itself was on a flight unsecured silt runs off into to park vehicles at the lo-
building site to comply with of stairs next to roadway to the Lane Cove River and cal RSL Club, so the are not
the council order. satisfy a building code,” Mr the Parramatta River. parked on site or even on
“I find this fine quite unfair Elek said. Although these run-offs the footpath.”
and see it as another way The North Ryde builder breach environmental laws Mr Elek has now raised
to upset our family in our said he wants the Envi- they are mostly enforced his issue with Clr Roy Mag-
present crisis, when we’ve ronmental Planning and by periodic blitzes and this gio and hopes Lane Cove
had to stop work and en- Assessment Act to be issue was raised several MP Anthony Roberts can
gage lawyers to ensure the amended to allow the En- times at previous council seek the proposed “en-
site fully complies with new vironmental Planning Au- meetings by former Clr Jeff vironmental protection”
bushfire control require- thority to have the power Salvestro-Martin. changes to the Act.
ments, after the site was ini- to grant an exemption to a When asked by The Councillor Maggio has
tially approved by a private council Stop Work Order to Weekly Times if the drive- previously challenged fines
Concord West resident Elise Walsh (pictured) has secured a place certifier. allow environmental protec- way works could be seen as issued by council officers.
on the highly coveted 2020 Sydney Water Graduate Program. “The only work on the
driveway was done to stop
The new graduate in experience that will teach ics, engineering, science, the sand and the silt be-
Communication and In- me a lot.” finance and communica- ing washed down a steep DIRECT FROM CUSTOM MADE
ternational Studies from This year Elise will be tions. slope, into the gutter, where
UTS is one of just 13 se- working as a part of Syd- “Graduates are offered it would pick up oil and oth- FACTORY CURTAINS
lected from over 1700 ap- ney Water’s Drought Re- a four-year rotational pro- er pollution and be washed
plications received from sponse Communications gram with up to four, 12 straight into the river,” he BLINDS AND SHUTTERS
university students across Team. month work placements. said.“I’m even collecting
Australia. “I hope to contribute to During this time, we help the run off water. MEASURED, MANUFACTURED
“I applied for Sydney the drought relief through them to discover their po- “I had previously taken AND INSTALLED
Water’s Graduate Pro- honest, thought-provok- tential through a range of other measures to protect
gram because of its great ing and behaviour chang- learning opportunities,” the river, which is only a CURTAINS•PELMETS•SWAGS•ROMANS
reputation. ing communication,” she Ms Bentley said. few metres away, includ- BUY ONE HAVE ONE
“It is ranked Number said. “The program develops ing bringing in special bags
Two in the top Graduate “Particularly, I would like our future leaders and we from Queensland, but the MADE FREE *
Programs nationally. to break through to the focus on harnessing the work we did on the drive-
“After having worked younger generation and diversity of thought, expe- way was the last and only
part time in a PR agency engage with them to want riences and perspectives option to secure the earth
for consumer products, I to do their part during our graduates bring.” and stop the silt run-off.” Receive the making cost on second window
He said he had met with
realised I would like to do these conditions.” Sydney Water’s gradu- council officers and was up to same value of fi rst window FREE! No
something more mean- Sydney Water’s Pro- ate program provides on under the impression this quantity limit! Applies to all pleating types and
ingful that did a public gram Specialist Susan the job experience and environmental protection styles, including S-Fold, pinch pleat, pelmets,
and community good. Bentley said the award- learning opportunities measure could be exempt- swags and romans etc.
“ C o m m u n i c a t i n g winning program allows to university graduates, ed. CALL NOW! FREE DESIGN AND QUOTE
drought related content Sydney Water to draw on including a two-week “I was stunned by the fine
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Victor Dominello launches Organised Interiors Stylish Exteriors

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