The developer planning to turn a Byng Street house into a boutique hotel has received threats and abusive messages scrawled on two white doors dumped inside the property’s front gate.
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Yallungah developer David Nock said he was shocked and had been personally hurt when he discovered the crude campaign.
“I’m sick of it,” he said.
I'm sick of it, I don't know what his intentions are."
- David Nock, developer.
“I don’t know what his intentions are.”
Mr Nock, the managing director of Denoc Holdings, has had a protracted dispute with neighbours and Orange City Council over the development.
Mr Nock said the first door was found on site a week ago.
He said it was a personal attack and referred to him suffering a heart attack two months ago.
“Swallow your pride and ask your nice neighbours forgiveness, yes,” part of it said.
“Forgiveness first: Before financial failure and heart failure.”
“Beware: [funeral director] Norm Penhall has a spare box,” it said.
And then on Monday a second door was dumped over the front gate.
It was also scrawled with messages.
“You jumped frying pan into fire, you jumped from fire into furnace, you jumped furnace to financial flop,” it said.
“Why don’t you live here yourself in your horrow [sic] house.
“Don’t put your hotel in the middle of heritage homes.”
Mr Nock said CCTV cameras were installed at the property but they had not detected the dumper.
He said police and council had been notified.
Mr Nock said police had told him to report any further similar incidents.
A spokesman for the council said it could not comment on the situation.
Mr Nock said the incidents followed a letterbox drop campaign of hate mail during the development process.
The size of the development was resolved after going to the NSW Land and Environment Court this year.
Mr Nock said he hoped work could start in November.
“We’re looking at trying to open in 12 months time. It depends on the weather.”
He said eight local builders had indicated they would tender for the building work.
Development opponent Dr Des Mulcahy said he was shocked by the door protests.
“Obviously it is completely deplorable behaviour,” he said.
“We wouldn’t condone that sort of behaviour.”
He said the court process had been decided, and although he did not believe it was in the interests of Orange, they would not further oppose the development.
“The court can only rule on the rules, not on the heritage of Orange,” he said.
David Fitzsimons
I am a senior journalist at the Central Western Daily concentrating on council, government and real estate issues. Before moving to Orange I filled senior roles at the Daily Telegraph, Daily Telegraph-Mirror and the Daily Mirror in Sydney. They included being an editor, news editor, chief of staff and reporter.
I am a senior journalist at the Central Western Daily concentrating on council, government and real estate issues. Before moving to Orange I filled senior roles at the Daily Telegraph, Daily Telegraph-Mirror and the Daily Mirror in Sydney. They included being an editor, news editor, chief of staff and reporter.
