MANILLA'S "hell house" has been demolished after the asbestos-riddled home was found with paper inside that had been set alight, just 300m from a school.
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Tamworth Regional Council took owner Jennifer Johnson to the NSW Land and Environment Court in Sydney this month for an urgent order to stop Ms Johnson from demolishing, disturbing or removing any of the structure at 24 Northbrook Lane.
On March 21, the council's regulatory services manager Ross Briggs received a call from a neighbour that someone was on the property trying to remove asbestos waste.
When Mr Briggs arrived with a ranger and two police officers, a fire was burning and a "tall man with a white goatee" was seen carrying material out of the house, court documents show.
Mr Briggs found Ms Johnson at the house and an altercation unfolded between the two.
"Get yourself off my property," Ms Johnson said, according to court documents.
Get yourself off my property.
- Jennifer Johnson
"Jennifer, I am here to give you a direction that you are already in breach of the clean up notice that we have issued to you," Mr Briggs responded.
None of the people removing the asbestos waste on the morning of March 21 had a licence or approval to do so.
The material that was burnt at the property could have posed a serious health risk if it contained asbestos as the fire "could have spread potentially fatal material" across neighbouring homes.
A fire destroyed most of the property in 2011 and the council ordered an urgent clean up in July last year. None of the steps were carried out by Ms Johnson, so the council took the clean up into its own hands.
The maximum penalty for failure to comply with a clean-up notice for an individual is $250,000 with a further penalty of $60,000 for each day the offence continues.
An order retraining Ms Johnson or known associates from carrying out any works on the property was placed on March 23 until March 26 at 10am. Council began demolition on March 25 and finished the next day.
The case will return to court in Sydney on April 5 to determine who will pay the legal and associated fees involved.
Madeline Link
Madeline Link is a journalist at the Newcastle Herald, with a focus on Lake Macquarie City Council. To keep up with my stories, follow my Twitter @madeline_link, for tips email madeline.link@newcastleherald.com.au.
Madeline Link is a journalist at the Newcastle Herald, with a focus on Lake Macquarie City Council. To keep up with my stories, follow my Twitter @madeline_link, for tips email madeline.link@newcastleherald.com.au.
