A COUNCIL meeting to decide on a controversial shed application by Hell's Angels members may be boycotted this week amid claims of threats and intimidation.

Two Port Adelaide Enfield Council members say they have received either threatening phone calls or have been intimidated by groups of men on motorcycles.

Another councillor is too fearful to take part in Tuesday's night debate over the application to build a compound in a suburban street at Mansfield Park.

"There's a lot of crazy people out there," said the councillor, who would not be named.



"If I go, I will shut my mouth and not say anything. I know I need to watch out, I'm a public person and stuff like that."

A second councillor had planned to miss the meeting but yesterday changed her mind.

"I feel quite confident about attending the meeting now," said Carol Martin, adding it was her role to represent the community.

An application was lodged eight months ago to build a 500sq m x 3m high shed with eight roller doors in Trafford St.

A Land Titles Office check by the Sunday Mail shows the property is owned by Northcrew Pty Ltd, a company operated by Peter John Threadgold and Angelo Pandeli – identified as Hell's Angels members.

The council's media spokesman, Nigel Hopkins, confirmed three "abusive, threatening" phone calls were made to planning staff last year when the application's approval process was delayed.

The council voted on February 17 to refer the application to Police Commissioner Mal Hyde to be considered under the State Government's new anti-fortification legislation, which came into effect on February 1.

However, Mr Hyde handed the matter back to the council on March 8, saying the shed was not covered by the legislation because it did not appear to incorporate "fortifications".

The application says the shed will be used to temporarily store cars and motorcycles and for minor servicing, as well as for occasional social functions.

Council staff have recommended the application be approved. Another councillor, who also refused to be named or allow their gender to be published, said they were followed some of the way home after the February 17 council meeting.

The councillor said they were surrounded by a group of six men at traffic lights near Port Rd, with one bikie driving towards the councillor's car on the wrong side of the road.

"One went forward into traffic, came back at me and put the brakes on," the councillor said.

"Then, on Grand Junction Rd, one came straight towards me. I panicked. A lot of us are bloody frightened."

Cr Ray Guscott said he received a phone call from an unidentified male two days after the council voted to refer the matter to police.

The caller had said: "You rejected the shed, we know where you live."

Cr Guscott said that the next evening, when his partner was home, 10 to 12 men on motorcycles parked on the footpath outside his home for about 15 minutes.

Three other councillors contacted by the Sunday Mail said they doubted the seriousness of their colleagues' claims.

But Cr Martin believed the application should have been handled by the police and not referred back to the council.

She said the Rann Government's tough stance on bikies had contributed to the alleged intimidation.

"The Government has put us in an awkward position," she said.

"It isn't the councils who have launched the war against the bikies.

"It's the Government who are coming out with these statements about the activities of the bikies, not councils. Saying they are such bad people."

Changes to the Development Act and Summary Offences Act allow a council which believes a proposed development may involve the creation of bikie fortifications to refer the application to the Police Commissioner.

The commissioner – who can take into account the character of applicants and their associates – is then able to direct planning authorities to refuse a fortress development or impose conditions on its approval.

In his March 8 letter to Port Adelaide Enfield environmental services director Fred Newman, Mr Hyde said: "Based on the information provided in your correspondence I have determined that the development does not appear to incorporate 'fortifications' as defined in the Summary Offences Act, 1953."

Premier Mike Rann declined the Sunday Mail's requests for comment, saying only "councillors have a responsibility to report any threats to the police".

A spokeswoman for Mr Hyde said police were not aware of any threats to councillors or staff.

The proposed site for the shed was bought in November 1999 for $170,000.

Threadgold and Pandeli have been directors of Northcrew Pty Ltd since January last year.

There is no evidence either man has been involved in any intimidatory behaviour.

Both have significant criminal histories, with Threadgold charged over the 1999 Wright St shooting of members of the rival Rebels Motorcycle Gang.

Charges against him and three other men were later dropped.

© Advertiser Newspapers Ltd

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