A Wannanup man has been fined for failing to clear his property of vehicles being repaired at his home.
Matthew Gray did not appear in Mandurah Magistrates Court on Tuesday and was convicted in his absence for the second time this year of contravening the provisions of a planning scheme.
The court was told Gray had been running a vehicle repair business from his Signet Court property when he was convicted of the offence for the first time in March.
Despite being fined $12,000 at the time, Gray continued to use his property to store vehicles and to undertake – or allow someone else to undertake – repair work.
A prosecutor for the City of Mandurah said complaints from nearby residents started to be received in November, 2015.
Gray was reported to have up to 20 vehicles on his property at any one time, with cars “coming and going” at all hours.
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A series of inspections on Gray’s property failed to resolve the issue, with the offender warned prosecution was imminent.
The City continued to receive complaints about Gray’s activities, with a June 2 inspection revealing 17 vehicles parked at his property.
Also on the property were various tools and machinery, including a vehicle hoist.
The prosecution said this was a “flagrant breach” of the City’s planning provisions, with Gray’s business not permitted to operate within a residential area.
Magistrate Anne Longden noted the most recent charge and related facts were almost entirely identical to Gray’s previous conviction.
She said the flagrancy of the breach was “most concerning”.
“He was well aware his property was being scrutinised,” she said.
The maximum penalty for Gray’s offence is $200,000 with an optional $25,000 daily penalty.
He was fined $20,000 plus $100 for each day he continued to breach City rules. At 125 days, this amounted to $12,500.
On top of the fines Gray was ordered to pay court costs of $1340.35.
