A Melbourne homeowner has admitted to illegally constructing a seawall on a Frankston beach, claiming he had no option due to the impossibility of obtaining a permit. The City Council has issued a stop-work order, but the homeowner remains defiant.
Gene Neill, the owner of a multimillion-dollar Melbourne seaside home, has admitted to illegally constructing a seawall on a Frankston beach. Neill claims he is taking this action to combat erosion, stating that obtaining a permit is impossible. He has set aside $400,000 for legal fees in anticipation of potential prosecution. Despite the Frankston City Council issuing a stop-work order and demanding the construction cease, Neill insists on continuing the project.
He argues that all similar seawalls along the foreshore are illegal and that the council lacks the authority to enforce the stop-work order.Neill purchased the Frankston South beachside property for $9.25 million in December. He maintains that the boundary between his property and the shoreline is unclear and that surveyors will soon determine the exact demarcation. He denies clearing any public land and asserts that the vegetation removed was from his property. Neill has also accused local MP Paul Edbrooke, who raised concerns about the construction and contacted the council, of being a “clown”.The council, however, is highly concerned about the unauthorized construction. They have stated that works in sensitive coastal environments require rigorous studies and that all structures on Crown land require consent from the state government as well as planning and building permits. The Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action is working with the council to address the illegal coastal works and restore the foreshore. Neill remains defiant, stating that the wall will be the best on the peninsula and that he has no choice but to build it to protect his property from erosion
Seawall Construction Erosion Permits Illegal Frankston Melbourne Environment Crown Land
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