AN ELDERLY Baldivis couple are "dumbstruck" Rockingham council has told them to pull down their flag pole because the pensioners didn't get planning approval.
Val and Bill Ashman put up the flag pole at their home three years ago and proudly raised the Australian flag every day without any problems.
Prior to moving to the southern suburbs, the couple had a flag pole at their Westminster property for 17 years without a single complaint.
Ms Ashman told Radio 6PR on Thursday morning she was deeply upset when a letter arrived from Rockingham council telling her the flag pole was illegal.
She was told to pull it down and start from scratch, which would cost them $147. Or pay the retrospective planning approval fee of $447.
"The letter came and it shocked the pants off us, we could not believe it," she said.
"We looked through all our paperwork here and we got a thing from the council about what you are and are not allowed to do. We asked the developer and he said you are allowed that.
"I cannot understand how anyone can say that a building is a flag pole. I don't live in...I'm absolutely dumbstruck."
Ms Ashman said raising the Australian flag had emotional significance for the family as her father and brother both fought in conflicts for their country.
"My father and brother fought in the war and I had an uncle that passed away because of war injuries," she said.
"It means so much to me. Anzac means so much to me. We live under it, we fight under it, we fight for our people and what we stand for and what we believe in.
"Our grandkids would come down from Karratha and are so proud of our flag flying."
Ms Ashman said the couple couldn't afford to pay the retrospective planning fee, nor the money to tear it down and erect it again.
"If it's not paid on the 11th, (February) it comes down," she said.
"I can't pay it. The councillors at Rockingham that are against this and the mayor.. the whole lot of them, if they are Australian, what are they doing? If they are not [Australian], go home."
Rockingham mayor Barry Sammels said council swung into action after a nearby resident complained about the flag pole.
"Otherwise this issue wouldn't have been raised," he told Radio 6PR on Thursday morning.
"When we get a complaint we have to act so we've said to the resident you've got to get approval.
"They have two options: one is retrospective planning approval, which means the cost is dearer $447 or you pull it down and put in for planning approval which is $147."
Cr Samuels said if council let the issue slide, then other residents would expect the same concession.
"I understand the resident is concerned, we are certainly not picking on them..it's not an issue about a flag.
"If we give concession to one we have to give concession to others and in local government you've got to play by the rules.
"If we don't go out and inspect it and it falls down and hits a child on the head going to school or a neighbour coming to visit them, then we have an issue with that."
