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*UDIWRQ 6WUHHW :DUZLFN Week commencing Thursday, 30 April | 2015 | Edition 777
Laying down the law
House fire fatal
Horses have their day
Casey’s Spin on sport
PAGE 3
PAGE 5
PAGE 7
PAGES 22-23
■ Council set to sell pensioner’s home over unpaid rates...
Washed away By SONJA KOREMANS A PENSIONER who says he will be left homeless if the council proceeds with the forced sale of his house next month is hoping for an 11th-hour reprieve. The sale comes after Leyburn resident Ron Whelan refused to pay his rates, claiming Southern Downs Regional Council was to blame for his house flooding in 2011 and 2013. The 67-year-old owes the council $5000 in rate arrears. Faulty road guttering led to a run off into the house during major Queensland floods causing $10,000 damage to the property, Mr Whelan said. He said the first he knew about the council sale was when house hunters knocked on his door last week asking to inspect “a property bargain being sold by council”. “I bought the house for $150,000 four years ago but council is only required to sell it for the land value, not the house and land package, to recover the $5000,” Mr Whelan said. “I will be lucky if I get a few thousand dollars from the proceeds,” said Mr Whelan who has paid off his mortgage. Under the Local Government Act of 2009 the council has the right to recover rates through the sale of land if it does not receive payment after three years. Mr Whelan said he was not able to get a bank loan to pay off the arrears and is appealing to the council to halt the sale. “What I would like is for council to give me the chance to sell the house myself and pay the debt, even if I get $50,000 it’s better than what the council will be paid by setting the reserve at land value only.” Continued on page 3
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THE Southern Downs reflected the gratitude of the nation on Anzac Day with residents turning out in record numbers across the region to honour fallen Diggers on the Gallipoli landing centenary. More pictures, page 2.
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