Call for compassion at Boonara Avenue

Call for compassion at Boonara Avenue
Image: Come so far, but still so far to go: the Bobolas' home on Tuesday. Photo: Kira Spucys-Tahar

Waverley Council has resolved to recover up to $350,000 of legal and clean-up costs surrounding a Boonara Avenue property in Bondi.

This is the fourth occasion on which the Land and Environment Court has ordered the council to clean-up the notorious Bobolas family’s property since 2005.

Labor councillor John Wakefield disagrees with the decision, arguing council should not seek to salvage its financial outlays.

“While council has an obligation and responsibility to ensure that the place is cleaned up, council should not attempt to recover costs to the point of driving that family to sell their family home,” he said.

Cr Wakefield said the rubbish should not have been allowed to accumulate to such an extent in the first place.

73-year-old Mary Bobolas was arrested on April 14 by Waverley police officers when council workers moved in to trim a series of branches obstructing the Boonara Avenue rubbish heap.

Upon the removal of the tree branches, Ms Bobolas confronted an attendant female police officer, seized her badge and was taken into custody that morning on grounds of assault.

A spokesperson for Waverley Council said the council is now offering support to the Bobolas family.

“We understand this is a difficult time for the owners and we hope they will accept the support we offer them,” the spokesperson said.

Greens councillor Dominic Wy Kanak voted against the move to recover costs and noted a proposal for rolling clean-ups at Boonara Avenue had not been actioned.

“Yes, we should realise our obligations under the Public Health Act and keep acceptable neighbourhood amenity for our residents,” Cr Wy Kanak said.

“But council should also be showing compassion and innovation in the way it deals with the family.”

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