One of the most frequent complaints heard in the Hawkesbury community is the frustration and expense tied to navigating the Council's planning department. Residents report that the process of obtaining Development Applications (DAs) is often mired in excessive delays, burdensome costs, and decisions that seem to disregard individual circumstances. Many feel that the Council's approach lacks practicality and fairness, resulting in significant stress and financial hardship for those trying to build or modify their properties.

Gordon Eckel's experience is a striking example of this widespread issue. Formerly a resident of Lower Portland, Eckel and his family endured a protracted battle with the Hawkesbury Council that ultimately drove them to relocate to Tasmania. Eckel, who lived in a small, well-constructed slab hut on his property, sought permission from the Council to retain the cabin while building a new home. However, the Council refused to grant the necessary DA unless the cabin was demolished, leaving Eckel and his family in a precarious situation.

"The cabin was a beautifully built little slab hut, only 27.5 square meters, but it was solid," Eckel recalls. "Even the builders who had to take it down said it was a disgrace to destroy something that had been so well-constructed."

Eckel's wife, a complex trauma specialist, used the cabin as a workspace, where she handled sensitive cases involving refugees from conflict zones like Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria. "We needed that cabin as a separate space," Eckel explains. "The stories she dealt with were harrowing - people who had witnessed unspeakable atrocities. We couldn't have our young kids exposed to that, even accidentally."

Despite taking the matter to the Land and Environment Court - and winning - Eckel found himself entangled in further complications as the Council continued to reject his attempts to retain the cabin. The drawn-out process, marked by additional DA submissions and rising costs, left the family with over $120,000 in out-of-pocket expenses.

The situation was exacerbated by a significant flood that struck while they were trying to sell their property, leading to a total financial loss estimated at around $1.2 million. "Every time we met with the Council, they asked for more reports, more paperwork. It felt like they were just trying to wear us down," Eckel says. "I can see why two people in our area ended their lives after dealing with this kind of bureaucratic nightmare."

Hawkesbury Councillor Nathan Zamprogno was the only official who attempted to assist Eckel by advocating for an exemption to retain the cabin. However, by the time the Council amended the Local Environmental Plan (LEP) to allow for such an exemption, Eckel had already sold the property and moved to Tasmania.

Reflecting on his ordeal, Eckel offers a clear message for candidates in the upcoming council elections: “Sack the entire Planning Department and hire professionals who have a somewhat more progressive view with a solutions mentality, rather than an outright rejection policy.”

Since moving to Tasmania, Eckel has had a markedly different experience with local authorities; “I recently dealt with the council about adding outdoor seating for a restaurant,” he says. “They immediately asked, ‘How can we help you?’ I started by asking if there would be any problems. They responded, ‘We can address that. How else can we help you?’ I said, ‘How else can you help me?’ And then I thought, in all my years dealing with councils and developments, no one has ever said, ‘How can I help you?’ It’s always been more about how can we screw you.”