<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>Exclusive:</span></strong><span> Peita Gardiman planned a small community swap meet to help locals make some extra cash before Christmas, only to be slapped with a $6000 fine.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Tweed Shire Council fined Gardiman and Murwillumbah Leagues Club for hosting the event without the proper approvals.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But Gardiman said the punishment doesn't fit the so-called crime.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>LIVE UPDATES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-attack-iran-live-updates-donald-trump-latest-world-news-headlines/95e0f1d7-cdf4-42ad-866d-569779885e71" target="_blank"><strong><span>Trump says the 'big wave' is yet to come in war with Iran</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Especially given that NSW just overhauled the rules governing outdoor community events in the state.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The scale of the penalty for a small flea market like that is just outrageous," Gardiman told nine.com.au.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It should have been a warning letter or something."</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/tweed-council-fined-woman-6000-over-tiny-swap-meet-market/755cb54e-3798-4593-b3c5-8bc06578037c" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>Have you got a story? Contact</span></strong></em><span> </span><strong><em><span>reporter Maddison Leach at</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="mailto:mleach@nine.com.au" target="_blank" title="mleach@nine.com.au"><strong><em><span>mleach@nine.com.au</span></em></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Late last year Gardiman worked with Murwillumbah Leagues Club to host a swap meet on the club's oval.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Club general manager Mark Wakefield told nine.com.au the goal was to bring the community together, not turn a profit.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Tweed Shire Council said a market could not go ahead without development consent.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Development applications start at $147 in Tweed Shire Council.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We offered to provide advice and warned that undertaking development without consent attracts 'notices of up to $6000,'" a Tweed Shire Council spokesperson told nine.com.au.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Gardiman initially cancelled the event.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She claimed the club got in touch a few weeks later to say it was allowed to go ahead.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I in good faith thought that they had got their approval from Council and so went ahead with the market," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But Wakefield claimed the event didn't count as a market and didn't require development consent under new rules introduced in September 2025.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Last year NSW state introduced the new Cultural State Environmental Planning Policy, under which events like street fairs and community festivals don't need development consent to go ahead on public land.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/pauline-hanson-storms-out-of-parliament-after-being-censured/954ec63f-0084-4279-be5f-d108a233556c" target="_blank"><strong><span>Pauline Hanson slaps wrist and storms out of parliament over censure</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The policy has made it cheaper and easier for NSW communities to host public events.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But it doesn't apply to private land like the Murwillumbah Leagues Club oval.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The swap meet went ahead in December with about 13 local families in attendance.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"These weren't people trying to turn a profit," Gardiman said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"They were just trying to make a few dollars on things they had at home, kids making some money before Christmas, that sort of thing."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A few weeks later, she and Murwillumbah Leagues Club each received a $6000 fine.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A Tweed Shire Council spokesperson told nine.com.au the fines were issued because the market never obtained the required development consent.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"After the letter on 24 November, responses were received from all parties involved showing they received the cautions, yet proceeded anyway," the spokesperson said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The fine amount ... is determined by the NSW Environmental Planning &amp; Assessment Act 1979 and its Regulation – Council does not control the size of the fine."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/protection-visa-australia-home-affairs-warns-british-and-irish-visa-holders-against-abusing-system/ae3679c0-7a25-4518-bfce-d149802766d7" target="_blank"><strong><span>British and Irish visitors warned against abusing system by applying for protection visas</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Gardiman acknowledged Tweed Shire Council's position but said fining her $6000 for a "tiny" one-off community event is excessive.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She fears the fine could put her out of business and, in turn, affect small local businesses that rely on the markets she hosts to get by.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Wakefield said the fine is more than half of what the club makes in quiet months and will cripple its ability to support the local sports teams that rely on it for funding.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This is not how you support small businesses and create a vibrant community," Gardiman said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/us-israel-attacks-iran-will-my-flight-be-cancelled-what-to-know-about-conflict-in-the-middle-east-and-flight-plans/e327c055-0a17-4046-9360-bcd08ae5ec50" target="_blank"><strong><span>Will my flight be cancelled? What to know about conflict in the Middle East and flight plans</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A </span><a href="https://www.change.org/p/review-tweed-s-6-000-penalty-for-a-small-community-swap-meet?source_location=search" rel="" target="_blank" title="Change.org"><span>Change.org</span></a><span> petition calling Tweed Shire Council to review the fines has already attracted more than 100 signatures.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Tweed Shire Council spokesperson said any challenge to the fine needs to be directed through Revenue NSW.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Gardiman is also calling for the development exemptions for community events on public land to be extended to events on private land too.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She hopes it might prevent others from being stung.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A Tweed Shire Council spokesperson said it must apply the rules as they're currently written.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"While we understand the intent of these markets was not broadly big business, we are obligated to enforce the rules that exist so that the process is fair for everyone."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>