‘Absolutely and utterly ridiculous’: Pensioner fights for home on own land after Shire's move

In a tale that seems to echo the classic David versus Goliath narrative, a pensioner's quest for a simple life has become a legal battle with local authorities.

Dan Reinhold, an Australian pensioner, has been the centre of a shocking legal drama after the Shire of West Arthur took legal action against him during a national housing crisis.

The predicament of Reinhold is a stark illustration of the challenges many Australians face in the current housing climate.



With rental prices soaring and availability scarce, the pensioner, grappling with health issues, made the decision to live in a bus on a parcel of land he co-owns in the small rural town of Darkan.

The town, located approximately 250km southeast of Perth, boasts a modest population of just 194, making it a quiet spot for Reinhold to settle down.


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Dan Reinhold was summonsed by his local Shire to court as he cannot live on his land in the vehicle. Credit: ABC NEWS (Australia) / Dailymotion


However, the tranquillity was short-lived.

Despite his intentions to build a shed and install a septic tank on the property, Reinhold and his friend were informed by the shire that their living arrangement was not permissible.

The local council's stance was clear: the land was not a caravan park, and therefore, the bus could not be used as a residence.

‘Why would we stay at the caravan park when we own the land?’ Reinhold said.

‘The bus is fully equipped and self-contained, it has just got out of hand.’

Reinhold claimed that in the past 12 months, several authorities had been trying to ‘rattle and intimidate’ him in his property.

The situation escalated when Reinhold received a summons to appear in criminal court, charged with the offence of camping outside of a caravan park or camping ground.

‘They are using barristers and solicitors to get this old bloke off his land. It is really over the top, it is absolutely and utterly ridiculous,’ he said.

‘There is a housing crisis.’



The Shire of West Arthur's suggestion that Reinhold's relocation to the Darkan Caravan Park, which they manage, was met with practical concerns.

The park's policy allows guests to stay for a maximum of 28 consecutive days within a three-month period.

Under the Caravan Parks and Camping Grounds Regulations 1997, local governments in Western Australia do have the authority to grant approvals for individuals to camp on their own land for up to three months, with the possibility of an extension up to 12 months if health and safety requirements are met and the Minister for Local Government approves.

Similarly, in New South Wales, proposed reforms from the new government could impose new restrictions on Australians living in caravans on private property.

This meant needing to gain council approval for caravans exceeding 20 sqm or connected to utilities for over six months.

‘Applications can only be approved if important health and safety requirements outlined in the regulations have been met,’ the spokesperson for the WA government said.



‘Generally, the Minister for Local Government will only approve an application if the local government has advised that it is satisfied that health and safety requirements have been met.’

‘Due to privacy considerations, we are unable to provide comment on whether a specific person had lodged an application.’

‘However, applications are considered on a case-by-case basis as quickly as possible.’

The state government has acknowledged the housing supply issue and has introduced reforms, such as new exemptions for granny flats, to alleviate the problem.

These reforms aim to cut through the red tape and create more housing opportunities, although they do not extend to caravans or homes on wheels, which are only approved for permanent living within caravan parks.

You can watch ABC News’ coverage below:


Credit: ABC NEWS (Australia) / Dailymotion

Key Takeaways
  • A pensioner has been taken to court by his local council for living in a bus on his own land in Darkan, Shire of West Arthur.
  • The man, facing a housing crisis, moved into the bus because he couldn't afford rental costs, with plans to build a shed and septic tank that were not completed.
  • He has been charged with camping outside of a caravan park or camping ground, contrary to local regulations.
  • The state government mentions that approvals can be granted for camping on one's own land but are subject to health and safety conditions and does not extend to permanent living in caravans outside of caravan parks.
Have you or someone you know faced similar challenges with local councils or housing regulations? What do you think should be the role of local authorities in ensuring the housing needs of their residents are met? Join the conversation below and let us know your views.
 
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I would love to know their reasoning for this particular law, who dreamt it up, why??
Apart from the fact that it has wheels, why is it different from a granny flat?
Some caravans these days are better than a lot of houses.
You can put a rundown old donga on your own block as a granny flat (as long as it is connected to the utilities in the main home) but you can't use a nice modern caravan (which you could also connect to the facilities).
How many people do they think have the amount of money it costs to build a granny flat in their backyard, and in many areas it is impossible to recoup this cost if you should decide to sell at a later date, especially in rural areas such as Darkan.
What is the difference if you had a large family and wanted to use a caravan as a spare bedroom, who is it hurting.
Bureaucracy gone mad if you ask me. The council would never even know unless some noisy neighbour advised them.
 
Honestly this is bureaucracy gone mad, in this day and age of rental and home ownership crisis, this law banning the man from staying on his OWN land be it in a bus or a caravan is ludicrous, so now even if you own the land you are being told you can’t use it unless it falls in line with the council telling you what you are entitled to do with it. It’s disgraceful, are the council offering this man low cost housing.. I bet they aren’t.. this is a disgrace and it’s happening here in Australia.. the land of giving people a fair go.. shocking uncaring behaviour from bureaucrats.
 
Hundreds of people, probably thousands, all over the country are living on the streets, single mums and their children are living in their cars.
Meanwhile in the little piss farting little town of Darkan some poor old fellow is living in his bus on his own property and the Council has a problem with this.
It's probably keeping the poor councilors awake at night, in their warm comfortable beds.
Really!!! Who is he hurting
I think there are too many ridiculous laws telling people what they can and cannot do on their own property.
If you can get a special permit to live there for three months what difference does it make three months or three years
The same as them making people move from one caravan park to another all the time. Why?? What is the reasoning behind this stupid law, what difference does it make.
Utterly ridiculous
Perhaps one of these councillors would like to offer this gentleman free board in their home.
 
If this man is not annoying his neighbours, not upsetting the public in any way what the hell is the problem! It's his land - leave him alone Council and find something constructive to do with your time and our money!!! Stop wasting both!! Do something that matters instead of this!!
 
This article is further proof as to why local governments and their "services" be dissolved and absorbed into state governments. Along with abject corruption, the "laws and regulations" dreamed up by these councils are to be despised.

Challenge a local council and they soon buckle. Done it a few times.
You will find that the State Gov is the one with the guidelines Councils already dance the tune to - LGA's have to comply with planning laws that are dreamed up by State.
 
Honestly this is bureaucracy gone mad, in this day and age of rental and home ownership crisis, this law banning the man from staying on his OWN land be it in a bus or a caravan is ludicrous, so now even if you own the land you are being told you can’t use it unless it falls in line with the council telling you what you are entitled to do with it. It’s disgraceful, are the council offering this man low cost housing.. I bet they aren’t.. this is a disgrace and it’s happening here in Australia.. the land of giving people a fair go.. shocking uncaring behaviour from bureaucrats.
Yes it is really time to take a good look at these goverments with in goverments and rid us all of there scurge as they are a relic of a by gone era of hate and control forced upon us all by the british goverment in the colonial eras
 
I would love to know their reasoning for this particular law, who dreamt it up, why??
Apart from the fact that it has wheels, why is it different from a granny flat?
Some caravans these days are better than a lot of houses.
You can put a rundown old donga on your own block as a granny flat (as long as it is connected to the utilities in the main home) but you can't use a nice modern caravan (which you could also connect to the facilities).
How many people do they think have the amount of money it costs to build a granny flat in their backyard, and in many areas it is impossible to recoup this cost if you should decide to sell at a later date, especially in rural areas such as Darkan.
What is the difference if you had a large family and wanted to use a caravan as a spare bedroom, who is it hurting.
Bureaucracy gone mad if you ask me. The council would never even know unless some noisy neighbour advised them.
I'm wondering what happens to shower and toilet waste, even modern caravans need to have storage tank emptied.
 
Living in a caravan comes with its own set of problems.
Most of the brand name parks will only let you stay for 28 days. Many parks have workers coming in for much longer periods,who have to leave as soon as their work finishes . In some states you can stay for six months move out for one day and move back in for another six months and so it goes. Some parks have permanent parks which are usually taken up.
In bigger cities/ towns you could live a van on someones property hidden beside and hooked it the properties utilities with little chance of being caught other than by an antsy neighbour dobbing you in.
Park in the middle of an empty block as l believe this bloke should have the right to do. You stand out like dogs b#$%$ in the moonlight, no matter how big or small the town may be.
Current situation calls for common sense,sadly lacking in all councils.
I continue to travel and enjoy all the beauty this land has to offer. Til the day comes where l too may be in the same position.
 

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