GRADY HUDD & SAM BRADBROOK

A BUSINESS offering street number marking services to residents in Gawler and its surrounding areas had its permit to do so revoked by Gawler Council last month for failing to comply with the prescribed conditions.
Last month, a number of locals took to social media to ask if anyone in the region had been approached by persons offering to paint a fresh street number on the kerb in front of their property, at a cost of $50.
According to the residents, the visitors told them a new, clear
number marking would help police, ambulance or fire services more quickly locate their home in the case of emergency.
The business responsible for the initiative is ‘Emergency Curbside Numbering’ – spelt that way – which has an Australian Business Number registered to Victorian man Martin Prowse.
Mr Prowse, speaking to The Bunyip, said his operation was completely legitimate.
“We are offering the public a service; as to whether they want to take us up on our service, that is their own prerogative,” he said.
“In Australia, no-one can knock at someone’s door, grab them by the head and say ‘you need to do this’… it’s up to the individual.
“It’s all adequately explained, it’s all shown in the folder that we’ve got that it’s not mandatory or compulsory – if you think there’s a need, or if you want it done, we do it.”
The Bunyip understands the areas of Gawler, Evanston Park, Tanunda, Nuriootpa and other surrounding suburbs were visited by Emergency Curbside Numbering in late May/early June.
Gawler mayor Karen Redman advised that the business had been given permission to offer the service within the Gawler Council area, but had its permit revoked four weeks ago.
“The council administration had issued a permit to a business
named ‘Emergency Curbside Numbering’ allowing them to approach landowners wishing to have numbering placed on their adjoining road kerb,” she said.
“The permit prescribed numerous conditions ensuring that the landowner/occupiers had full discretion and were under
no obligation to accept the service being provided by this private business.
“The permit was in place for a period of three weeks and was terminated on June 11 by council due to failure of this business to comply with the permit conditions.”
Mr Prowse alleged the permit condition he breached was a failure to provide council with written permission from each customer before continuing with painting a street number on
the kerb.
He said his business ceased operation in the Gawler area once the permit was revoked.