By JONATHON HOWARD
A NOOSA pensioner is preparing to fight Noosa Council over a jetty dispute at the corner of William Street and Gympie Terrace.
Built in the 1950s, the jetty was purchased by Kevin and his wife Vicki Driscoll for an undisclosed amount in 1993.
For decades, the jetty was used by the Driscolls and members of the general public for fishing, swimming and relaxing.
However, Mr Driscoll fears Noosa Council is hatching an elaborate plan to “rip off his family” and reclaim the jetty without compensation.
In protest, Mr Driscoll is taking a one-man stand on top of the jetty.
Mr Driscoll said the council was at fault over the jetty’s deterioration, because council failed to properly maintain the adjacent footpath.
He said the footpath shifted towards the jetty which led to the jetty’s collapse during rising flood water.
“The council has threatened me with a huge fine if I don’t repair the jetty or give up our entitlement to the jetty,” he said.
“But the problem is stemming from the council’s footpath which has shifted towards the jetty and led to the pylons being damaged,” he said.
Mr Driscoll also revealed certified engineering reports to support his claims.
“Apart from simple (footpath) repairs to bitumen cracks, there was no observable evidence that there had been any attempt to address the problem and stabilise the area,” the engineer’s report read.
Mr Driscoll said he had documented evidence that the Noosa Council had wanted to take over the jetty since the 1990s.
“Council’s own report, an independent Civil and Structural Engineers’ report and a GeoTech Engineers’ report, all prove maintenance neglect by council caused damage to the jetty,” he said.
Mr Driscoll said he was calling on Noosa Council to take responsibility and fix the jetty, or provide his family with compensation, so that council can take over the jetty.
“I have a lot of respect for the Noosa councillors, and I do not believe the councillors are at fault here, but instead it’s the internal administrators within the council that want to take the jetty away from us – by force,” Mr Driscoll said.
Noosa Council was asked to provide a statement in relation to the jetty matter, however council was unable to respond by the print deadline.
Noosa MP Glen Elmes was also contacted for comment, however, Mr Elmes is currently away on leave.
Check Noosa Today for council’s response next week. Or visit our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/NoosaToday
