Fuming ratepayer forklifts City of Gosnells car after $50k fine This forklift driver didn't want the Gosnell Shire Council parking on their farmland. So he decided to remove them. AN IRATE ratepayer has taken out his anger on the City of Gosnells by picking up a council car with a forklift and moving it - with two staff inside. His "moment of madness" was captured on video and posted on LiveLeak early today - instantly attracting nearly 50,000 views. The video was taken on Tuesday, September 3, on a property in Kenwick where owners Graham and Sandra Palmer and the City of Gosnells have been in a dispute over the use of the land since December 2010. The Palmers were successfully prosecuted by the City over their unapproved developments, fined $50,000 and ordered to pay $10,000 in court costs, but are now appealing the decision in the Supreme Court. The video begins with the two council workers getting out of a silver four-wheel-drive parked on a gravel driveway near a truck and shipping container. The City of Gosnells claims that moments earlier, the two staffers were in the car when it was first elevated from the ground. The video shows a yellow forklift approaching and lifting the car and moving it backwards away from a truck. A council worker quickly moves out of the way. A man's voice is heard saying "You're joking . . . I got it mate" while in the background another person is heard shouting "Get off or I'll call the police." The forklift is then seen carrying the four-wheel-drive down a driveway while it's former occupants stand dumbfounded. City of Gosnells chief executive officer Ian Cowie told PerthNow the City's compliance officers and rangers visited the property after receiving 13 complaints about activities occurring on the land. Mr Cowie said the land was zoned rural and up to eight commercial or industrial businesses could be operating on the Kenwick lot. "These activities are prohibited on rural properties," Mr Cowie said. Complaints led to the City Officers visiting the property. On the day of this incident, they had been invited on to the property by one of the business operators. Mr Cowie said after City officers had talked to the business operator, they were about to leave when they were approached by Mrs Palmer, and asked to leave. A city of Gosnells council car is removed by forklift from a property in Kenwick. Mr Cowie claimed Mr Palmer prevented his officers from leaving. The council boss told PerthNow: "The officers agreed to leave but were prevented from doing so by Mr Palmer who blocked their exit by ramming the vehicle and elevating it with his fork lift. Two staff were in the vehicle when it was first elevated from the ground. It appears that the staff did not suffer any serious injury. Mr Cowie said the incident had been reported to WA police and he understood it was being investigated. In February 2012, the City of Gosnells voted to proceed with legal action against the Palmers and the activity on the Kenwick property after years of non-compliance with zoning and planning permits. The city was first made aware of unauthorised works on the property in December 2010. Throughout 2011, the city was aware of works continuing with no planning or development applications lodged. In council minutes from February 2012, it was noted Mr Palmer's defence for the zoning breaches was that the City was "not constitutional." "The City commenced prosecution and the conviction resulted in a $50,000 fine against the property owner, plus $10,000 legal fees," Mr Cowie said. The property owner appealed this conviction with the appeal now to be heard in the Supreme Court. Attempts have been made to contact Mr and Mrs Palmer.