A 54-year-old Merrygoen man has been convicted and fined a total of $4,000 after a court found he unlawfully fenced off a local tennis court to house his horses on the site.
Warrumbungle Shire Council commenced legal action following an investigation into the Merrygoen resident, who they said had completely fenced off the Merrygoen Tennis Courts with an electrified fence and placed horses on the site, depriving the local community of the use of the tennis courts for an extended period.
Coonabarabran Local Court this week heard that in October last year, after receiving a series of complaints, Council served an Order on the man to immediately remove the electrified fence and horses from the tennis courts.
Despite follow up from Council and attendance by NSW Police officers, the resident declined to remove the fence and horses.
Council subsequently laid charges against the 54-year-old for offences relating to the unlawful enclosure of Crown Land and grazing animals on Crown Land.
The Council also allocated a work crew to dismantle and remove the electric fence, restoring the tennis courts back to the community.
The man was convicted and fined a total of $4,000 and ordered to pay $2,274 in costs.
“Warrumbungle Shire Council will respond accordingly to matters where community amenity is impacted by the actions of individuals who interfere with the community’s ability to use facilities or create dangerous risks through their actions,” the Council said in a statement.
