Tom Kapitany fights with Casey council town planners as giant dinosaur awaits delivery
This could well be the strangest item ever to go on sale on Marketplace — and it’s got a price to match its size.
South East
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The owner of a popular crystal exhibition centre and dinosaur park is selling a massive model Australotitan for $55,000 because he fears he can’t get a permit to exhibit the 16m long beast.
Crystal World owner Tom Kapitany, 62, said he had spent upwards of $200,000 on trying to get permits to build a new home for Rosie the Shark, and fears his constant fights with Casey Council left him with no choice but to sell his latest acquisition.
The model Australotitan — which stands 4.2m — is set to arrive from the Philippines in two weeks
Mr Kapitany has not revealed how much he paid for the gigantic model but said he won’t make much profit from its sale.
“As we get older our toys just get bigger,” he said.
“Anyone can come and walk through the dinosaur park and the crystal exhibition centre for free, but the dinosaurs are for my enjoyment.”
“The previous council was fully supportive of me, but when they got dissolved everything went out the window and town planning has had free reign.”
After a confrontation on his neighbour’s property, Mr Kapitany said he had been locked in a battle of egos with the council’s town planning department over a new exhibition building for Rosie the Shark.
“The council lost the dispute due to a letter I wrote as well as a confrontation I had with a council officer on my neighbour’s property,” Mr Kapitany said.
“The officer threatened to fine me as I pointed out their error.”
“Now I’ve been fighting with them to get a permit for Rosie the Shark. She’s been sitting in our carpark for three years.”
“They really have been harassing me, to the point where I feel like I can’t even shovel a bit of dirt on my property.
“Council departments should be taken to task when things like this happen, and publicly outed.”
Despite winning his most recent VCAT battle for a permit to build a new space for the popular shark, previously preserved in a glass tank of formaldehyde, Mr Kapitany is anything but elated.
“After three years of attempting to negotiate with Casey council, I’ve spent close to $200,000 in trying to get permits for this,” he said.
“I’ve been harassed and intimidated by town planning officials, even to the point where they tried to shut Crystal World down completely.”
“I now have to spend over $50,000 in the next two months to comply to some questionable requirements as well as let go some staff as a consequence, before I even start to build the extension for Rosie the Shark.”
“I’m prepared to fight them and I’ve got the money to do it, but there are some battles we shouldn’t have to fight.”
Mr Kapitany has listed the dinosaur for sale on Facebook Marketplace for $55,000 here.
The council has been contacted for comment.
gemma.scerri@news.com.au
