as posted here
THE City of Gosnells will go to court to force Richard Pennicuik down from the gum tree that has been his home since December 7.
A City officer, tree specialists, a traffic management team and security guards attended Mr Pennicuik’s Hume Road property earlier today.
Mr Pennicuik refused their formal request to end his vigil.
Last last year, the City removed several trees on Hume Road because of safety concerns. Mr Pennicuik has refused to leave the tree outside his home over the past three months.
Gosnells chief executive officer Ian Cowie said the City now had little choice but to take the matter to court.
“We have made every effort to avoid court action against the protester, but he has refused to listen to reason, even ignoring the advice of his own lawyer," he said.
"Now the protester faces fines of up to $5000 initially and up to $500 for each day the protest continues.
“Other residents have had their lives turned upside down by this protest. They have been the innocent victims of abuse and bullying.
“The City tried everything to bring this to a conclusion and to offer the man a dignified end to his protest.
"However, every offer we made, including a three-month breathing space to allow the man to come down, was rejected. We will now proceed to court and let the law takes its course."
He said the City of Gosnells would poll Hume Road residents to select replacement trees for the street.
as posted here
Friday, 12 March 2010
Convicted criminals lose asset battle
as posted here
A convicted murderer and child sex offender have lost their legal fight to stop WA'S Director of Public Prosecutions seizing some of their assets.
Gary White is serving a life jail term for murdering Anthony Tapley at a Maddington property in 2001, while Aaron Bowers was convicted sexually abusing a young girl.
The men's crimes were not committed at properties they own but under the state's criminal confiscation laws, the DPP wanted to take more than $100,000 from White and a house part owned by Bowers.
Last year, a judge dismissed the DPP's application but that decision was overturned today by the Court of Appeal.
Bowers' lawyer says he will take the matter to the High Court.
as posted here
A convicted murderer and child sex offender have lost their legal fight to stop WA'S Director of Public Prosecutions seizing some of their assets.
Gary White is serving a life jail term for murdering Anthony Tapley at a Maddington property in 2001, while Aaron Bowers was convicted sexually abusing a young girl.
The men's crimes were not committed at properties they own but under the state's criminal confiscation laws, the DPP wanted to take more than $100,000 from White and a house part owned by Bowers.
Last year, a judge dismissed the DPP's application but that decision was overturned today by the Court of Appeal.
Bowers' lawyer says he will take the matter to the High Court.
as posted here
Tree man remains defiant
as posted here
Neighbours have turned on tree man Richard Pennicuik after he refused to end his 95-day bid to save a tree from council tree loppers.
As Mr Pennicuik stood defiant in his tree, he spoke of multiculturalism and youth affairs.
"I am the living man in the living tree," Mr Pennicuik told a crowd that gathered below his tree.
"I believe in the youth of Australia. You have the solution in your hands."
But he was receiving a hostile reaction from neighbours. One neighbour told ABC an overwhelming number of residents wanted the tree removed as it posed a danger.
The neighbour told ABC that a branch from a similar tree had fallen on his daughter's car, causing $1500 damage.
Mr Pennicuik's comments came after he refused a request to climb down from the eucalyptus melliodora and allow tree loppers to remove the tree, which they say is dangerous.
Police and council workers arrived at Mr Pennicuik's Thornlie home about 11am. The area was declared a work zone and reporters were moved away.
A council representative went up to Mr Pennicuik in a cherry picker and urged him to come down. However, he refused.
The council will start legal action in a Perth court as soon as possible. Council officials want to take the matter to court as soon as this afternoon and want the courts to expedite proceedings.
This week, council threatened Mr Pennicuik with a $5000 fine and a $500 penalty for every additional day he spends up the tree.
Mr Pennicuik was first given 15 minutes to consider his options. That 15 minute window was extended as Mr Pennicuik could not hear what the council worker had to say amid the commotion from supporters, neighbours, reporters, police and council workers.
Another tree that Mr Pennicuik fought to protect, located on the same street, has been cut down.
There are reports that a supporter was involved in a physical altercation with a council worker.
The 57-year-old lived in the eucalyptus melliodora since December, refusing council requests to come down. During that time he unsuccessfully attempted to have the tree heritage listed.
The council argues that the tree could be dangerous because of falling limbs.
Yesterday, Mr Pennicuik's lawyer John Hammond advised him to come down from the tree after the council threatened to issue a $5000 fine. The council could further fine Mr Pennicuik $500 for every day he remained up the tree after the $5000 fine was issued.
Mr Pennicuik remained defiant, saying he would only end his protest on his own terms.
as posted here
Neighbours have turned on tree man Richard Pennicuik after he refused to end his 95-day bid to save a tree from council tree loppers.
As Mr Pennicuik stood defiant in his tree, he spoke of multiculturalism and youth affairs.
"I am the living man in the living tree," Mr Pennicuik told a crowd that gathered below his tree.
"I believe in the youth of Australia. You have the solution in your hands."
But he was receiving a hostile reaction from neighbours. One neighbour told ABC an overwhelming number of residents wanted the tree removed as it posed a danger.
The neighbour told ABC that a branch from a similar tree had fallen on his daughter's car, causing $1500 damage.
Mr Pennicuik's comments came after he refused a request to climb down from the eucalyptus melliodora and allow tree loppers to remove the tree, which they say is dangerous.
Police and council workers arrived at Mr Pennicuik's Thornlie home about 11am. The area was declared a work zone and reporters were moved away.
A council representative went up to Mr Pennicuik in a cherry picker and urged him to come down. However, he refused.
The council will start legal action in a Perth court as soon as possible. Council officials want to take the matter to court as soon as this afternoon and want the courts to expedite proceedings.
This week, council threatened Mr Pennicuik with a $5000 fine and a $500 penalty for every additional day he spends up the tree.
Mr Pennicuik was first given 15 minutes to consider his options. That 15 minute window was extended as Mr Pennicuik could not hear what the council worker had to say amid the commotion from supporters, neighbours, reporters, police and council workers.
Another tree that Mr Pennicuik fought to protect, located on the same street, has been cut down.
There are reports that a supporter was involved in a physical altercation with a council worker.
The 57-year-old lived in the eucalyptus melliodora since December, refusing council requests to come down. During that time he unsuccessfully attempted to have the tree heritage listed.
The council argues that the tree could be dangerous because of falling limbs.
Yesterday, Mr Pennicuik's lawyer John Hammond advised him to come down from the tree after the council threatened to issue a $5000 fine. The council could further fine Mr Pennicuik $500 for every day he remained up the tree after the $5000 fine was issued.
Mr Pennicuik remained defiant, saying he would only end his protest on his own terms.
as posted here
Police called as council moves to cut down tree
as posted here
TREE-man Richard Pennicuik says he is ready for a stand-off today with police and loppers.
Mr Pennicuik, 57, told PerthNow police car were converging at the Thornlie site where he has been protesting among the branches since December 7.
“I am being told that the police are here to control traffic while the loppers are here,” he said.
“The police have already turned up, so that’s a sign.”
Mr Pennicuik said he wanted an amicable solution with Gosnells Council.
But he now says he is more determined than ever to maintain his protest in the eucalyptus on the verge of his Hume Road home.
“They have come here to bully an ordinary man in the street who is standing up for his basic constitutional rights,” he said.
“I said yesterday I wanted a peaceful and honourable solution with the council and this does not look like it, does it?
“I am peaceful and honourable but…I am going to stay in the tree and keep out of trouble and not be a bad person.
“I am not coming down.”
The council says the tree poses a danger to property and public from falling limbs and intends to cut it down.
Mr Pennicuik says he has not seen evidence from the council to back this up and wants it to stay.
Mr Pennicuik’s high-profile lawyer John Hammond this week advised him to give up the protest - or face hefty fines for obstruction.
Mr Pennicuik was forced by council to remove a tree-house where he sat and excercised in January.
Subsequent attempts to have a permanent barrier built around the trunk and to have the tree heritage listed have failed.
Council spokesman Bob Figg would not confirm when the approach would be made, but said council officers and tree loppers would soon visit the tree ask Mr Pennicuik to climb down.
Mr Figg said if the tree man refused, the council would start a prosecution that could cost him a $5000 fine and up to $500 for every day he remains in the tree.
Mr Figg said the council would not name the day the loppers would visit the site as they would not be responsible for any ``media circus’’.
as posted here
TREE-man Richard Pennicuik says he is ready for a stand-off today with police and loppers.
Mr Pennicuik, 57, told PerthNow police car were converging at the Thornlie site where he has been protesting among the branches since December 7.
“I am being told that the police are here to control traffic while the loppers are here,” he said.
“The police have already turned up, so that’s a sign.”
Mr Pennicuik said he wanted an amicable solution with Gosnells Council.
But he now says he is more determined than ever to maintain his protest in the eucalyptus on the verge of his Hume Road home.
“They have come here to bully an ordinary man in the street who is standing up for his basic constitutional rights,” he said.
“I said yesterday I wanted a peaceful and honourable solution with the council and this does not look like it, does it?
“I am peaceful and honourable but…I am going to stay in the tree and keep out of trouble and not be a bad person.
“I am not coming down.”
The council says the tree poses a danger to property and public from falling limbs and intends to cut it down.
Mr Pennicuik says he has not seen evidence from the council to back this up and wants it to stay.
Mr Pennicuik’s high-profile lawyer John Hammond this week advised him to give up the protest - or face hefty fines for obstruction.
Mr Pennicuik was forced by council to remove a tree-house where he sat and excercised in January.
Subsequent attempts to have a permanent barrier built around the trunk and to have the tree heritage listed have failed.
Council spokesman Bob Figg would not confirm when the approach would be made, but said council officers and tree loppers would soon visit the tree ask Mr Pennicuik to climb down.
Mr Figg said if the tree man refused, the council would start a prosecution that could cost him a $5000 fine and up to $500 for every day he remains in the tree.
Mr Figg said the council would not name the day the loppers would visit the site as they would not be responsible for any ``media circus’’.
as posted here
Tree man's showdown looms
as posted here
Thornlie "tree man" Richard Pennicuik's 95 day protest could end today, with police and tree-loppers believed to be heading to his property this morning.
Mr Pennicuik has staged a protest at a City of a Gosnells plan to cut down a eucalyptus melliodora at the front of his home.
The 57-year-old has lived in the tree since December, refusing council requests to come down. During that time he unsuccessfully attempted to have the tree heritage listed.
The council argues that the tree could be dangerous because of falling limbs.
Yesterday, Mr Pennicuik's lawyer John Hammond advised him to come down from the tree after the council threatened to issue a $5000 fine. The council could further fine Mr Pennicuik $500 for every day he remained up the tree after the $5000 fine was issued.
Mr Pennicuik remained defiant, saying he would only end his protest on his own terms.
as posted here
Thornlie "tree man" Richard Pennicuik's 95 day protest could end today, with police and tree-loppers believed to be heading to his property this morning.
Mr Pennicuik has staged a protest at a City of a Gosnells plan to cut down a eucalyptus melliodora at the front of his home.
The 57-year-old has lived in the tree since December, refusing council requests to come down. During that time he unsuccessfully attempted to have the tree heritage listed.
The council argues that the tree could be dangerous because of falling limbs.
Yesterday, Mr Pennicuik's lawyer John Hammond advised him to come down from the tree after the council threatened to issue a $5000 fine. The council could further fine Mr Pennicuik $500 for every day he remained up the tree after the $5000 fine was issued.
Mr Pennicuik remained defiant, saying he would only end his protest on his own terms.
as posted here
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)