Notorious Mandurah Hoarder Fined Thousands Over Persistent Property Violations
A well-known hoarder in central Mandurah, who has defiantly vowed not to alter his behavior, was confronted with a staggering maximum fine of $8.5 million on Tuesday. This came after he repeatedly ignored directives from the city council over several years.
Damian Warren Geoffrey Powell, a local mechanic, was ordered by the City of Mandurah in 2023 to clear his junkyard property and dismantle an illegal structure. Despite this, he continued to accumulate car bodies, furniture, boats, trailers, fencing, and vast amounts of junk in a residentially zoned area.
Court Proceedings and Mental Health Disclosure
During his sentencing at Mandurah Court on February 10, Powell explained his actions to Magistrate Clare Cullen, stating, "I love cars, your honour. That's my mania, everyone has a mania, some people hide them in the closet, mine are out in the open." When questioned about potential mental health issues, Powell revealed he has an ADHD diagnosis and described himself as "illiterate."
The court appearance followed three years of Powell disregarding escalating demands from the city to clean up his Crawford Street property. In August of the previous year, frustrated city officers brought him before the court, where he was convicted in absentia for unauthorized development and non-compliance with a building order.
Legal History and Maximum Penalties
Prosecuting lawyer Madeline Madvad disclosed that this was not Powell's first encounter with local authorities. In 2015, he was fined $8,500 for stockpiling cars and sea containers on the same property, with compliance issues dating back to 2007. The planning infringement carried a maximum penalty of $200,000, plus a daily fine of $25,000. For Powell, who ignored the city's demands for 330 days, this could have resulted in over $8 million in fines, with an additional $50,000 maximum for failing to comply with the order.
Madvad noted that the daily penalty might only apply to 25 percent of the offending period. Powell attempted to justify his actions by explaining he moved cars from the back to the front of the property to build a shed for storage, but needed a fence first to shield them from neighbors' view.
Magistrate's Ruling and Final Warning
Magistrate Cullen interrupted, emphasizing, "You aren't entitled to warehouse that amount of vehicles at the property. Even if the materials are hidden by a fence they would still be unauthorised." She criticized Powell for making no effort to remove the vehicles or structures, stating he was "stockpiling for your own interest and lack insight that what you are doing is against the law."
Powell was ultimately fined $23,000 and ordered to pay $3,000 in costs. Cullen warned him to rectify the issues or face continued prosecution. In response, Powell remained defiant, saying, "It won't change your honour." This case highlights ongoing challenges with hoarding behaviors and local council enforcement in residential areas.
