Predatory councils.

The aftermath of most declared " natural disasters " is a massive cleanup funded by the government to get those affected back on their feet in the shortest possible time.   It seems that this cleanup from the devastating floods that hit the Illawarra last March continues to linger.

Shellharbour council is demanding that a single parent with a property at the junction of Macquarie Rivulet and Lake Illawarra remove a shipping container that floated downstream in the flood - and lodged on her property.

The problem is one of access.   This massive steel container will either be lifted out by the use of an Air-Crane, or it will need to be cut up with welding torches and removed by boat - and the cost of this removal is estimated to be at least $ 24,000.

The council has flick passed the responsibility of having this work done back to the young family, despite having received public assistance money to fund the flood cleanup.   The cost is obviously far beyond her capacity to pay, but the council is relentless - and so far she has been fined $500 for not obeying a $ 445 compliance order to remove the container, with more legal action threatened.

This whole mess is an interesting can of worms.   The container was filled with horse saddles and other riding equipment and was obviously the property of someone further upstream. Surely that owner has some responsibility for the recovery of their property, but it seems that the council has simply washed it's hands of the affair - and taken the easiest way out by dumping the whole mess on the head of the property owner where the container came to rest.

It is possible that legally the council is within it's rights, but morally it seems unjust to inflict a course of action that may lead to personal bankruptcy on a struggling single parent when council has received public money specifically to avoid such distress.

It is a hard hearted decision - exacerbated by the fact that this came about during a natural disaster. Hopefully, the airing of this problem in the media may cause the council to have a change of mind !