A dent repair business recently, and temporarily, set-up shop in Mulgrave without Hawkesbury Council’s consent.
The Department of Fair Trading also said it had no record of the business, Smart Dent Removal, being licensed.
Its operations were noticed by Michael O’Toole, operator of a similar business, Dent Ezy Fix, based in Penrith.
Mr O’Toole lives in the Hawkesbury and does work across both regions.
He said Smart Dent had probably set up because of the many hail-damaged cars in Hawkesbury at the time.
‘‘I checked with Hawkesbury Council and I found the business in Mulgrave had not put in a development application,’’ Mr O’Toole said.
‘‘When the guy from the Council said to me he wasn’t going to close them down, I got a little annoyed.
‘‘I said to him, can I just open a factory in Windsor without your approval?
‘‘I’ve got a business and I had to put an application in to Council to run it; they should, too.’’
Hawkesbury Council’s acting manager of regulatory services Emmanuel Isbester said Council’s compliance officers had investigated the matter.
‘‘During an inspection of the premises it was observed that minor works were being carried out,’’ Mr Isbester said.
‘‘It consisted of one man popping out minor dents in vehicles with hand-held equipment.
‘‘It was observed that no traditional panel-beating activities were occurring, including use of compressors or spray guns.’’
He said Council officers were told the operation was closing within the week and a follow-up inspection confirmed this had happened.
Mr O’Toole said he was not satisfied with Council’s response to the problem.
‘‘They were in Mulgrave for a few weeks, I saw three guys working in there,’’ he said.
‘‘They still need a development application to operate.’’
He also said they could have used an existing repair shop in the same town, bringing some business to it.
‘‘I’m doing the right thing running my shop,’’ Mr O’Toole said.
‘‘I’m a bit upset that some other company can just walk in and take business from us.’’
The Gazette attempted to contact the business temporarily housed in Mulgrave, but was unable to trace it.
A Fair Trading spokeswoman said the department was unable to find any licence record of Smart Dent Removal operating at the Mulgrave address.
‘‘Fair Trading welcomes more information that would assist in identifying the trader to enable further inquiries,’’ she said.
