Yankalilla Council vote to sell unfinished Carrickalinga house to recover $26,000 rates debt from owner Stephen Marks

The forced sale of an unfinished beachfront house at Carrickalinga will go ahead in a bid to recoup a $26,000 rates debt on the site.

Yankalilla Council wants to sell this Gold Coast Drive property at Carrickalinga to recover a $16,000 rates bill.

The forced sale of an unfinished beachfront house at Carrickalinga will go ahead in a bid to recoup a $26,000 rates debt on the site.

Yankalilla Council unanimously voted on Tuesday night to sell the Gold Coast Drive house, owned by embattled Wirrina Cove marina director Stephen Marks who has failed to pay rates on the property since April 2015.

Any buyer of the Gold Coast Drive property, which residents have previously called an “eyesore”, would have to demolish the structure under proposed conditions of sale.

The council also voted to sell another three properties owned by Mr Marks and his various companies to recover an additional $18,200 in lost rates dating back to 2015.

Under the Local Government Act a council can forcibly sell a house if rates remain unpaid for three years or more.

The properties would be sold via public auction with any proceeds of sale applied to sales costs, payment of the outstanding rates and any other outstanding liabilities.

Any surplus funds would be paid to Mr Marks.

Under the act the council must send Mr Marks a letter advising him of its intent to sell the properties.

If the rates are not paid within at least one month of service of the letter, the council can proceed with the sale.

Revenue SA placed a caveat on the property in August last year claiming an interest in the property for alleged unpaid land tax and emergency services levies.

The Advertiser has attempted to contact Mr Marks for comment.