A former Shellharbour Council worker responsible for enforcing local government rules has himself been busted carrying out tradie work without a licence.
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Craig Geoffrey Nolan was fined $10,200 in Wollongong Local Court on Tuesday after pleading guilty to 17 charges under the Home Building Act, relating to four concreting jobs at houses in Flinders, Horsley and Tullimbar in 2014 and 2015.
The court heard Nolan, a former team leader in the council’s regulation enforcement division, entered into contracts with home owners to build driveways and retainer walls, despite not being licensed or insured.
In July 2014 he signed a Flinders family up to a $23,800 contract to concrete their driveway and build a retaining wall. At the same time he sought and received a $5000 down-payment – more than the five per cent deposit allowed under law.
In December that year Nolan set up another job at Horsley for a driveway and landscaping worth $31,000.
This time he received a down-payment of $20,000.
Similar jobs were carried out at Tullimbar in March 2015 and at Flinders in April 2015, worth $19,450 and $25,000 respectively.
Owing to Nolan being unlicensed, the work carried out on the four properties is not covered under the government’s home warranty insurance scheme, potentially impacting the future re-sale value of the properties.
NSW Fair Trading launched an investigation into Nolan’s activities after receiving complaints from three home owners.
In court on Tuesday, Nolan’s lawyer said the work had been a sideline to his main employment with the council, however he was aware of his obligations under the legislation.
The court heard the victims were in the process of suing Nolan to recoup their losses.
Magistrate Mark Douglass was mindful of that fact when handing down the sentence, saying if hefty court fines were imposed Nolan would not be able to meet his obligation to the victims.