Tweed water wars: Matthew Karlos hit twice by Tweed Shire Council in the same week, declares to fight on

A Tweed Heads water miner says “green ideology” councillors are trying to “ruin” his business after being slapped with two council orders in the past week.

Matthew Karlos has declared he is going to continue to fly from Tweed to Brisbane for work despite councillors refusing his helipad development application.

FIRST it gave him seven days to close his water-extraction business, now the Tweed Shire Council has told Matthew Karlos he can’t fly his helicopter to and from work.

Councillors late last week refused his application for a helipad on his Urliup property, 20 minutes southwest of Coolangatta.

They went against advice from their own planning department, saying the helicopter would be too noisy for neighbours.

TWEED COUNCIL ORDERS FAMILY TO DEMOLISH WATER BUSINESS

Matthew karlos’ application to have a helipad at his family’s property at Urliup has been refused by Tweed Shire councillors.

A furious Mr Karlos, who has been using his helicopter to commute to work in Brisbane each day for more than a year, said he would continue to fly.

Mr Karlos had been flying to work when the council told him he needed a helipad approval to land the chopper on his property, he disagrees.

“I have a private licence, I have a right to fly to and from work.,” he said.

“I can’t move to Brisbane, I am bankrupt. That’s why I am living on the family property.”

At last Thursday’s council meeting, Green Mayor Katie Milne said a helicopter would be too noisy for neighbours.

The refusal was initiated by Cr Milne and supported by councillors Reece Byrnes, Ron Cooper and Chris Cherry.

Cr Milne did not respond to the Bulletin’s request for comment.

FAMILY AT THE CENTRE OF A FEUD OVER WATER MINING APPLIED FOR HELIPAD

Tweed Mayor Katie Milne outside the Karlos Property in March when the Land and Environment Court inspected the business. Tweed Daily News had the caption "Water extraction protesters attend the Land and Environment Court site inspection of the Karlos property on Urliup Rd."

It is the council’s second hit against Mr Karlos in the past week.

The Gold Coast Bulletin today reported that the council had given his water-extraction company Eniflat seven days to shut up shop.

It was also given 28 days to remove all equipment.

The Tweed Shire Council could not say why it is stopping the business, but confirmed the stop work letter had been the only one sent within the water extraction industry.

Eniflat has pumped water from its property for 15 years, selling it to bottlers such as NuPure, Wet Fix Spring Water and, previously, Mount Franklin.

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Mr Karlos said he could not afford to challenge the council’s decision in court because his family’s water extraction business already had an ongoing case.

“Because of the court proceedings with the water business we don’t have the money to take the helipad decision to court,” he said.
“They didn’t vote this helipad down because of noise, it is because of their green ideology and they want to ruin our water business.”

Eniflat and the council are fighting in the NSW Land and Environment Court over a refusal to allow B-double trucks to cart water from the property.

The matter has been part-heard and relisted for further hearing on September 12-13.