The Member for Southern River, Peter Abetz, is appalled by the cavalier attitude of the City of Gosnells.

The City of Gosnells has been carrying out road duplication works on Warton Rd in Southern River since last year. 

In early December 2009, the Member for Southern River started to receive a number of approaches from residents with properties located in Nolan St, Longstaff Loop, Barrett St and Buvelot Turn, complaining about substantial cracks and damage incurred, allegedly as a result of ground vibrations caused by earthmoving equipment.

“When around twenty residents came to my office with the same complaint, I started to think the matter was quite serious. Many reported “heavy shaking” of the house and structural damage. One resident complained about damage in his kitchen, living room, study room, front room and two of his bedrooms with cracks exceeding more than one meter in length,”Mr Abetz said.

In early February, the City of Gosnells agreed to meet at the Member’s office with a number of residents and initially advised them that they could lodge a damage claim.

However, last month, the affected residents received a standard letter by the City’s insurers, LGIS Liability, advising them that no compensation would be payable as the roadworks had “not been conducted negligently.”

“I was totally shocked to hear this. Some of these people have obtained engineering reports which confirm that the damage incurred was the result of vibrations caused by compaction equipment but that made no difference to the Council.  I wrote a personal letter to the Chief Executive Officer of the City of Gosnells last month but I have not received his reply ” Mr Abetz said

Some residents are upset that the Council had not carried out a dilapidation survey prior to the commencement of works to test whether damage was likely to be suffered.

Mr Abetz has contacted a local legal firm with expertise in local government issues and has asked it to address the  affected residents at a meeting to be held after hours at his office on Friday 17 June to give them the opportunity to launch a class action against the Council

 I just want justice to be done to my constituents” Mr Abetz said.

Authorised by Peter Abetz, 2 Furley Road, Southern River

Comments: Office: 9256 4900