Advertisement

'Outrageous' detail in image causes community uproar

A tense feud has erupted in a small NSW community after seaside benches funded by a “generous local” earned some unwelcome stickers from a council employee.

Two seats appeared next to a pathway to Salt Beach in Kingscliff, just south of Tweed Heads in northern NSW, a few weeks ago after being donated by a local man.

The recycled timber benches were positioned just off the footpath and facing towards the ocean so anybody who used them could enjoy the scenery and any passing sea life.

On Thursday however, a council inspector slapped a sticker to each of them, instructing their owner to remove the “abandoned/unattended” items from the beach.

“These items have been reported as being abandoned or left unattended,” the stickers read, requesting the owner to “urgently” contact the council or remove the items.

Photo shows two benches facing the beach, one has a sticker put on it by council saying it is waste. Source: Supplied
The owner of these seats was ordered to remove them 'urgently'. Source: Supplied

The notices were not received lightly by the community, who weighed in on the matter after photos of the seats were shared to a Facebook group by a particularly annoyed local named Mel.

“These seats are beautiful, they’re recycled timber, and people enjoy sitting on them, especially the elderly,” she told Yahoo News Australia.

“They serve a purpose for people who sit and watch the beach, or take their shoes off before they go down there. I see it every day,” Mel, who lives close by, said.

She understood health and safety requirements surrounding the instalment of furniture for public use, but argued the council to work with locals on a solution that would allow the seats to stay.

“Surely there’s ways that the matter could be dealt with that could benefit everyone,” she said.

Locals call on council to focus on essential business

Others criticised the council for focussing its attention on minor matters like the seats instead of issues like pot holes in the roads, which according to the general consensus, was a major issue in the area.

“What a joke. If only they where this attentive to the roads,” one local wrote in a comment to Mel’s post.

“Leave the seats and spend the money to fix the bloody road. Some are an absolute disgrace,” another said.

Photo shows a council sticker on one of the benches which says: 'Notice: Abandoned/Unattended Items' asking for them to be picked up urgently. Source: Supplied
A council employee slapped one of these stickers on each of the seats on Thursday. Source: Supplied

Many expressed confusion at why the council found it necessary to remove the seemingly harmless addition to the coastline.

“Why now take them away. They did such a good job, better than the council would do,” someone wrote.

“This is beyond ridiculous, leave the chairs where they are,” another person said.

Others argued in favour of the council’s controversial move, citing concern for local wildlife and the prospect of a liability lawsuit if someone were to be injured on or near the benches.

“As much as this is a nice idea, it comes down to public safety and liability. Public seating needs to be approved, and majority of it needs to be bolted,” one person wrote.

They added that if someone had an accident because of the seats, they may be within their rights to sue the person that put them there and the “council’s liability insurance won't cover it”.

Benches could disturb ‘protected dunes and endangered wildlife’

Several people were disturbed at the seats seemingly being placed amongst vegetation on the beach, which one said was “a no-no”.

“They encourage people to walk on areas people shouldn't be walking on,” another wrote.

Someone else claimed the benches were on “protected dunes that endangered wildlife live in”.

One person argued the seats could prove problematic if hundreds of locals decided to follow the man’s lead and leave benches at the beach.

The Tweed Shire Council told Yahoo News Australia the benches were placed on public land without approval from the council.

“This furniture has been placed on Public Land without approval therefore they are unauthorised structures. In some cases there has also been disturbance to soil and dune vegetation,” Jane Lofthouse, coordinator for the council’s Sustainability and Environment unit, said.

“These activities are expressly prohibited under the Crown Lands Management Act 2016 and could be subject to fines. If items are not removed Council will impound the items and hold them for 28 days. The items can be returned to the owner if the relevant impounding and administration fees are paid.

“Residents are encouraged to take camp chairs or similar with them to the beach so long as they are not left there after use and dune vegetation is not disturbed.”

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play.