[FONT=Verdana]A Brisbane Magistrate has fined a developer more than $500,000 for the illegal demolition of four pre-war homes at Hamilton.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]The homes were cleared from a 7,000 square metre site in the inner Brisbane suburb of Hamilton last year.
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[FONT=Verdana]Magistrate Paul Kluck today ordered developer Nathan Conn and his company Chilmac Pty Ltd to pay $5,000 and $500,000 respectively in fine and $24,000 in costs.
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[FONT=Verdana]Mr[/FONT][FONT=Verdana] Conn[/FONT][FONT=Verdana] blamed poor advice."Next time I'll ensure that I seek the correct legal and technical advice that I should," he said.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]Mr[/FONT][FONT=Verdana] Conn[/FONT][FONT=Verdana] apologised but would not say how much he will make on developing the land."That's not the topic that is at hand," he said.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman welcomed today's outcome.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]"It is a record fine and I'm happy about that - I would like it to have been higher," he said.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]The Brisbane City Council was after $750,000.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]Councillor Newman says he wants even tougher penalties for future offenders, despite the record fine imposed on Mr Conn and his company.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]Councillor Newman says jail may be a better option.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]"To look at jail terms where people wantonly go out and do this," he said.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]The final decision on tougher penalties rests with the Queensland Government.[/FONT]