A DIMBOOLA man will have to pay more than $13,000 to Hindmarsh Shire Council after he failed to pay his rates.
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Peter Bywaters was due to face Horsham Magistrates' Court on June 13, but did not appear.
The court heard Bywaters had wanted to adjourn the case due to health reasons, however Magistrate Franz Holzer refused the request and it went on without him.
Hindmarsh Shire Council's rates co-ordinator Kylie Fischer said Bywaters had failed to pay rates for two properties in Dimboola.
The court heard the council's debt collectors sent Bywaters numerous rate notices, dating back to August 2015.
It also heard Bywaters owed the council $5730, plus 10 per cent interest of $563, for rates between June 1, 2018 and May 31, 2019.
Ms Fischer said Bywaters had not notified the council about any hardship that prevented him from paying rates.
She said Bywaters had alleged that a council employee had told him he couldn't make part-payments.
"I could find no evidence to substantiate the claims of being told he couldn't pay rates in part-payments," she said.
"He is known to council and has been quite difficult to get along with. He has been aggressive to staff; I haven't had any positive experiences with him."
Magistrate Holzer said Bywaters' history with the council was "troubling".
"There has been a history of obstruction and failure to engage," he said.
Bywaters was ordered to pay $5730, plus $563 interest, to the council. He was also ordered to pay $6998 for the council's legal and administration fees.
He will have to pay the total sum of $13,285 to the council within 90 days.
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