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nicked form Ozbiker.org
Rann steps in to ban Rebels
"storage facility"
Plans for a an alleged two-storey "biker fortress" in
Adelaide's western suburbs have been rejected by State Cabinet.
In a state first, the Rann Government "called in" the
application linked to the Rebels Motorcycle Club on the grounds
it might be used for "unlawful purposes".
The 650sq m concrete structure – with reinforced steel doors, 12m-high walls and a roof deck – was proposed for the former Rebels clubhouse site at Chief St, Brompton.
Premier Mike Rann said yesterday Cabinet considered the application last week and rejected it on advice from Police Commissioner Mal Hyde.
"It is clearly a totally inappropriate building to have in our suburbs," Mr Rann said.
"Mr Hyde reaffirmed his original advice that the development was a fortification and, further, has determined the proposed development poses a risk to the safety and good order of the community.
Rann trotted out one of his well worn cliche throwaways."Why do they need these fortresses in our suburbs? My suspicion is they're not going to hold knitting circles in them."
The clubrooms were bombed in the early hours of July 15, 1999, allegedly by a rival motorcycle club.
The site is now vacant.
Mr Rann said the application for the $350,000 structure was lodged with the Charles Sturt Council last October, just before the Government's anti-fortification legislation was passed.
In April, at the request of the council, Planning Minister Trish White took the unprecedented step of calling in the application for consideration by State Cabinet.
"I'm told the planning applicant, Mr Karem Awad, is president of the Rebels Motorcycle Club and that there was reason to believe the new building could well have been used for unlawful purposes," Mr Rann said.
"This building was more like a bunker than what Mr Awad claimed it was intended for – which was a storage facility."
Among its features were:
NINE toilets and eight showers to service a workforce of six to eight people.
PARKING for 19 cars.
GROUND floor area of 470sq m and first-floor area of 650sq m with polished concrete floors.
Under the changes to the Development Act and Summary Offences Act, the Commissioner can seek a court order to remove a fortress if he has grounds to believe it shields criminal activity or was built without planning approval.
Chief St resident Greg welcomed the Government's move. "I think it's fantastic – we were concerned about the prospect of having a fortress and bikers in the neighbourhood," he said.
