Adelaide Hills Council claims Simon Tolley Lodge breached disability standards
A prominent winemaker is in a legal fight with a council after it claimed he breached development rules relating to his luxury accommodation property at Woodside.
Adelaide Hills
Don't miss out on the headlines from Adelaide Hills. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Hills to welcome first whiskey distillery
- Mapped: SA’s best camping spots
- Latest subscriber-exclusive giveaways, specials and prizes
A prominent winemaker and his wife are in a legal fight with Adelaide Hills Council over allegations their luxury lodge fails to meet disability standards.
Simon Tolley and his wife Narelle are facing action in the Environment, Resources and Development Court over an enforcement notice the council issued to their company, Reefton Ridge Vineyards.
The council also argues that without adequate disability access, Simon Tolley Lodge at Woodside should operate with no more than three bedrooms.
It has until recently been allowing up to 10 people to stay in as many as five bedrooms, at a shared cost of $970 for a minimum two-night stay, plus $150 for cleaning.
The council initially argued fire-safety standards were also being breached, but that issue has been resolved.
The couple’s lawyer George Manos told the court on Friday his clients disputed the enforcement notice, which was issued on June 10.
Mr Manos said a fire and safety inspection by a private company, which resulted in the installation of smoke alarms, had since been carried out.
The issues about disability access and the property’s bed capacity were the result of the council allegedly failing to follow correct development approval procedures, he said.
“Ultimately the issue is whether or not disabled access is required in the circumstances of this matter,” he said.
“That is the critical issue (as) fire matters have been attended to in terms of smoke alarms, fire extinguishers and the like.”
Contacted for comment, the council’s director of development and regulatory services Marc Salver said its main concern was disability access.
Mr Salver said the property required wider door frames and ramps to be installed.
“They would have to put in access ramps to the main doors so that a person in a wheelchair can get in and out,” he said.
“They also would have to put in all the universal access requirements such as toilets and shower.”
Mr Salver said the couple were advised by the council that they either make the property disability-friendly or reduce the number of bedrooms used.
As an interim measure, the couple are operating only three bedrooms.
The matter returns to court on July 21.