Dear Readers, below a copy of an email sent to the State Minister for Local Government. The contents are self explanatory.

If you have any queries regarding this please ask the Council to explain.

Their email address is council@cowra.nsw.gov.au

Dear Minister for Local Government, I write to you to regarding the casual indifference that I have been subjected to from Cowra Council. For approximately 6 years I have tried to get them to act in relation to health and safety hazards that exist on the neighbouring property, which is known as Camp Kitty (230 Conimbla Road, Cowra). There has been and there remains welfare issues which the Council have not resolved. With the present bush fire crisis in NSW only a Council with poor local governance ignores a fire hazard, but this is exactly what Cowra Council is doing. I refer you to the attached photo, showing a big pile of old paint cans and other flammables which are stored at the rear of the property and adjacent to a 116 acre forest. Some of those cans contain oil based paint, and they can be heard to `pop’ violently as soon as the temperature rises and the cans heat up. The General Manager of Cowra Council does not respond to my correspondences which I suspect is against the Local Government Act.I have only been able to get a response by contacting my local State MP, Stephanie Cooke. She has elucidated a reply from said Manager and in his letter he has stated that `it is acknowledged that the property is untidy but not to a level which requires action by Council’. Does the Council not consider the fire hazard from the paint cans not actionable by them?

Regarding a cat which is on the property and whose rights under POCTA Legislation have been denied, and have been for the last 4 years the Manager has stated `Council has no power to enter and take a cat from private property under any legislation. The POCTA legislation is regulated and applied by the RSPCA and not Local Government.’

I query this last statement and ask that you clarify what powers Local Government have to enforce a law, the breach of which has been brought to their attention and they have not denied is being breached? Can Local Government choose to decide what laws it decides to enforce and what to ignore? The General Manager did state in his letter that `this cat has shelter and food and appears to be looked after and in good health’. In reality the cat has been without any human or animal company for the last 4 years, it is not known what state of health it is in because it has not received any medical inspection in that time. It runs and hides as soon as the enclosure where it is in is approached, and is fed usually every second day by a volunteer who travels to site to feed it. Obviously in very hot conditions the food left for its second days feed will be fly blown.

I ask the following -

1. That you obtain an assurance that Council will reply to correspondence from its residents and ratepayers.

2.That Council acts to enforce laws, all laws, that are enforceable in NSW.

3. Makes safe the environment for local residents by removing from Camp Kitty all flammable materials. That includes not only the paint cans but a storage bin (see attachment) that has remained unemptied for 4 years and which attracts vermin.

4. That you reply to this correspondence as a matter of urgency and request that Council acts for the well being and safety of all residents. I also add that the Mayor of Cowra does not reply to my correspondences either which I consider to be poor local governance.

I thank you for your anticipated help in this matter.

Yours Sincerely,

Keith Climpson

cc Stephanie Cooke, State MP

Ms Berejiklian State Premier.