'Public' Park Barbecue Rules

Lajhutton on 04/06/2018 - 13:21
Last edited 04/06/2018 - 14:12 by 1 other user

My kitchen has a four burner electric stove which costs a fortune to run, I cook dinner every night and very rarely go out so it's a large chunk of my electricity bill.

I live in a nice area and I'm lucky enough to have the back fence of my house facing onto a public park.

Within a few meters of my fence there is one of those free public barbecues, the electric kind that has a push button and turns off on its own after a while.

Since I moved here almost 2 years ago, I have used my own stove probably once or twice when it's been incredibly cold outside.

I have a little cart I fill with ingredients and wheel over to the public barbecue most nights. I also use it as a hotplate to boil water for dishwashing (and occasionally for a bath - all water from the nearby public tap of course). I estimate I am saving over $300 a year by doing this (electricity alone).

Here's where things get a little interesting. My next door neighbours whom I have barely spoken to since I moved in have started to pay a lot of attention to my use of the barbecue. It started when they had some friends over and wanted to use it for some sausages after I had already started a risotto. They were quite rude about it and it escalated to an all out screaming match. Thankfully they backed down before things got physical and ever since I have kept my phone on record when they come near.

Today I received a letter from my landlord explaining that I may be in breach of my lease and detailing a number of complaints he has received from both my neighbours and the council. The council is demanding that I stop using the 'public' barbecue.

The neighbours also claim I have been stealing their electricity and I am being threatened with eviction because of it. Once or twice I have plugged an extension cord into an outlet that is near their pool equipment but I only did so to power a lamp and a blender and I didn't even have to go over their fence to reach it.

I'm just wondering if anybody has any advice here - I don't think it's fair for the council to place 'public' barbecues and then try and place restrictions on who can use them. I have arranged to meet with my landlord next week to discuss my neighbours - apparently they are friends with him and are very upset so I need to explain that they started this whole thing by expecting me to cut my turn on the barbecue short for them. What points should I bring up and what laws or council rules can I quote?

Thank you in advanced

Food & Grocery

closed Comments

  • Ryanek on 04/06/2018 - 13:30
    +166

    Sorry but I find this hilarious. This site was made for you.

    • Hybroid on 04/06/2018 - 13:34
      +1

      Really does take 'frugal' to a whole new level. If the electricity outlet belonged to the neighbours property then would say fair enough, that's wrong and they can be upset about it. But the use of public BBQs surely are first come first serve so he's entitled to it. Whether or not the council can enforce a limit is another matter.

      • HighAndDry on 04/06/2018 - 13:50
        +67

        I think you have to apply reasonableness to this. Public BBQs are presumably there for the public to use, and not just OP. If OP's use of the BBQ is effectively preventing everyone else from using it - and it is because they have an unfair disadvantage living next to it and apparently using it every. single. day., I'd think that that's way past the point of reasonableness.

        Tl;DR - OP is the reason we can't have nice things.

        • Scrooge McDuck on 05/06/2018 - 08:48
          +5

          If OP's use of the BBQ is effectively preventing everyone else from using it - and it is because they have an unfair disadvantage living next to it

          Surely you mean unfair advantage.

    • John Kimble on 04/06/2018 - 15:34
      +21

      Not really, this site is for bargain hunters, not freeloaders…

    • D6C1 on 05/06/2018 - 16:37
      +5

      This is a troll post

      • TheRealCher on 05/06/2018 - 18:20
        +1

        If it is, it's great…

    • zuuutoootuuu on 05/06/2018 - 18:20

      OP reminds me of people that go to a public toilet instead of home just to save on paper/water/electricity…

    • Wiede on 05/06/2018 - 20:10

      OP can save even more money if he just stop paying rent and live life as a hobo.

  • Quantumcat on 04/06/2018 - 13:31
    +4

    Before you do anything, find out who owns the electrical plug that the neighbours claim is theirs. If it's theirs and you don't use it again I don't see what they or the landlord can do to you. I also don't see why you shouldn't be allowed to use the public BBQ. I'll be interested to see the other replies when they come.

    What state are you in? That will help people give you relevant advice about tenancy laws.

    • Scrooge McDuck on 05/06/2018 - 08:56
      +16

      OP's in SA.

      I would take this matter straight to the Food Court. They helped me recover loss and damages when [a national supermarket chain] forced me to pay for useless banana peel with my bananas.

      • StrayfireX on 05/06/2018 - 18:29

        Does the food court have a KFC? I'm kinda hungry.

  • djkelly69 on 04/06/2018 - 13:34
    +54

    I doubt you are actually in breach of any council rules or regulations in relation to the BBQ, but frankly you are being an a$$ using it that often so I won't be giving you guidance on what to say or do.

    Also:

    Once or twice I have plugged an extension cord into an outlet that is near their pool equipment but I only did so to power a lamp and a blender

    Care to provide some context to this? Because it sounds a lot like you were stealing electricity.

    • try2bhelpful on 04/06/2018 - 13:44
      +8

      You are really lucky I'm not your neighbour I would've found some really inventive ways to mess with you for what you are doing. Personally if I was the neighbour I would be going to the council and suggesting that they get the burner moved to a different part of the park. Have you noticed the food tasting funny lately, the neighbour may well be adulterating the burner. I think this is scummy moving the costs onto the council who are trying to provide a resource for people who want to use the park for a picnic. Best of luck with the Landlord when he hears this little tale.

      • owli on 04/06/2018 - 14:07
        +10

        I think this is scummy moving the costs onto the council taxpayer.

        FTFY

        and from the OP

        I estimate I am saving over $300 a year by doing this (electricity alone).

        You move all that you need to cook outside onto the BBQ, and even at times move pots outside, fill them up with water so you can bathe or wash the dishes with.

        You do all that for an approximate saving of $300, OP, do you not save more in time using what you have at home? How much is your time worth?

        • Scrooge McDuck on 05/06/2018 - 09:06
          +4

          You do all that for an approximate saving of $300, OP, do you not save more in time using what you have at home? How much is your time worth?

          Do you know where you are?

          You're overlooking the unquantifiable satisfaction of scoring a bargain.

      • o53djz7qTPY4der on 04/06/2018 - 14:19
        +44

        This has to be a joke? I find it painful to cook sausages on those BBQs and you're doing pumpkin soup? How many times did you press the button?

        • angelkulit025 on 04/06/2018 - 16:17
          +4

          the question is how long did he spent cooking the soup. I reckon it'll take you the whole night just to cook it right.

      • HighAndDry on 04/06/2018 - 19:49
        +22

        Doesn't matter what you're using it for. "Because I wanted to save money" is not a valid reason for stealing someone else's electricity. I'm starting to suspect this whole thing is just trolling.

      • Scrooge McDuck on 05/06/2018 - 09:51
        +7

        Do you have a plan of action in case your neighbour unplugs you?

        I'm thinking you could set up a boiler on the hotplate, and a pump, turbine and generator in a communal area. The cooling tower could attract undesired attention, so best to go with an open cycle using your neighbour's pool water as a working fluid. Maybe set up one of those drinking bird toys to keep the button pressed.

        And you can sell any extra power back to the grid as renewable energy! $$$

        • grr1701 on 05/06/2018 - 14:54

          Ahhh, McDuck; you crack me up!

    • TheRealCher on 05/06/2018 - 18:21

      No one's worried about what a guy does with a lamp and a blender near the pool?

    • EnALup on 05/06/2018 - 19:20

      He cooks most of nights. So once or twice mean, many times lol. How will he see in the dark along with use of blender.
      Exploitation of public resources to next level…

  • Diji1 on 04/06/2018 - 13:38
    +17

    If the council is demanding that you stop using the barbeque you should probably listen to them or at least clarify why they're asking you to stop.

    I think you stole electricity. Once or twice never means once or twice IME, people always say one time or two times if it was that many, not maybe it was one, maybe it was two, that's usually someone trying to minimise what they've done more than twice.

    • Scrooge McDuck on 05/06/2018 - 09:16
      +2

      e.g. I voted for Liberal or Labor once or twice.

    • EnALup on 05/06/2018 - 19:22

      May be OP was caught two times by the neighbour. Before that he/she does not remember using it.
      Look like a joke post.

  • myusername on 04/06/2018 - 13:41
    +1

    have you seen the letter from the council?

  • indium on 04/06/2018 - 13:42
    +3

    There's two sides to every story. I'd like to hear the neighbours side, might be something different than a lamp or blender plugged in and could have happened on multiple occassions. Wouldn't surprise me since you are using the public bbq as a hot plate to boil water for a bath to save money on electricity. Not suprised the council want you to stop using the bbq, you are not using it for its intended use.

    • HighAndDry on 04/06/2018 - 13:50
      +35

      I don't even need the "other" side. OP's own side paints them in a pretty bad light all by itself.

    • sheamas88 on 04/06/2018 - 15:20
      +6

      Probably uses his neighbours power to charge his Eneloops and runs his whole house off of batteries.

    • idonotknowwhy on 05/06/2018 - 16:25
      +2

      mining rig

  • [Deactivated] on 04/06/2018 - 13:48
    +15

    Sorry, but the blender and dishwashing makes this Hall of Fame material.

  • Ughhh on 04/06/2018 - 13:48
    +14

    Since I moved here almost 2 years ago, I have used my own stove probably once or twice when it's been incredibly cold outside.

    Pretty sure these public facilities were not intended for ops excessive non-recreational use.

  • Nutrino on 04/06/2018 - 13:50
    +6

    You are killing my brain cells.

  • HighAndDry on 04/06/2018 - 13:51
    +36

    I have a little cart I fill with ingredients and wheel over to the public barbecue most nights. I also use it as a hotplate to boil water for dishwashing (and occasionally for a bath - all water from the nearby public tap of course).

    What is wrong with you?

    I have plugged an extension cord into an outlet that is near their pool equipment but I only did so to power a lamp and a blender

    See above.

  • mysterytal on 04/06/2018 - 13:53
    +2

    "My kitchen has a four burner electric stove which costs a fortune to run."

    My question was going to be how much does it cost to run but then I found in your long post the following.

    "I estimate I am saving over $300 a year by doing this (electricity alone)."

    At an average of 30 cents a kWh that's 1,000kWh per year…WOW!!! Considering most of us cook on the stove for about 15 minutes per day you're cooking A LOT!

    I couldn't be bothered. Stop using it. Maybe once a week but stop using it every day.

    This isn't really a thing is it….love it.

    • lgacb08 on 04/06/2018 - 20:58

      You must have underestimated energy consumption of these electrical stove a lot. What can you cook with only 15 mịn, boiled ogg? I think OP must have underestimated his modest saving to, not $300 but probably at least double that. Energy cost to heat up water is a lot

      • Switchblade88 on 05/06/2018 - 18:56
        +1

        Gotta love some boiled ogg.

    • Munki on 05/06/2018 - 17:17
      +4

      He's probably cooking meth.

    • TheRealCher on 05/06/2018 - 18:24

      Your maths have made me think… Blender, outdoors, cooking… Can anyone else smell the meth lab over the fence?

  • JimmyF on 04/06/2018 - 13:54
    +5

    Public facilities are to be shared with EVERYONE and are not just the sole use of one person……

  • try2bhelpful on 04/06/2018 - 13:54
    +36

    personally I think we are being scammed; surely nobody is as selfish, and clueless, as the OP.

    • mskeggs on 04/06/2018 - 13:56
      +54

      This one of the most powerful fantasy troll posts we have ever seen!

      • poboy on 04/06/2018 - 13:58

        Yeah, I'm disappointed that 'Troll post' isn't the top comment. (poster only made his account for this post as well).

        • try2bhelpful on 04/06/2018 - 14:04
          +1

          He has been scheming for a while; says his account was created on 02/01/2018 - only one post. Will probably be only post.

    • Entropy Sky on 05/06/2018 - 15:35
      +1

      You would be surprised to know there is a certain group of people going around shopping centers stocking up on toilet papers, toilet hand paper towels, tissues,
      Napkins, plastic bags…. any freebies they can get their hands on.

      • JIMB0 on 05/06/2018 - 17:40

        Hand soap and drinking straws as well.

      • TheRealCher on 05/06/2018 - 18:25

        To clean the public BBQ, I swear!

  • barbarella on 04/06/2018 - 13:56
    +3

    You should have videoed yourself wheeling your trolley to the public BBQ AND heating up your bath water!!!! OMG! You could have won the OzBargain Birthday Photo/Video Competition hands down!!!

    Oh…and you lost my support when you plugged into your neighbour's power!!! that is unforgivable! :(

  • GG57 on 04/06/2018 - 14:01
    +12

    I don't believe it, particularly the bath water. Too hard to transport it.

    • dasher86 on 04/06/2018 - 14:17
      +1

      OP sponge bathes?

    • mskeggs on 04/06/2018 - 15:59
      +5

      OP didn't say they brought the bath water back inside, could be washing al fresco.

    • CocaKoala on 05/06/2018 - 14:54
      +2

      I don't believe it, particularly the bath water. Too hard to transport it.

      Transport it where? The OP uses a mug and a bucket and does his business right beside the barbeque. He uses freshly plucked grass for scrubbing, of course. And uses freshly squeezed eucalyptus leaves from the park for a soap.

  • love2shop on 04/06/2018 - 14:04
    +15

    I logged in to say that this thread is hands down the funniest I have read in a long time. I need more details OP.

  • DarthAntz on 04/06/2018 - 14:21
    +5

    on average, how many hours per night are you using the bbq? are you cooking for yourself or for many people?

    To counter your problems, you should be writing letters to the council requesting a power socket being provided at the BBQ, so you can use your blender and sou vid and all the other technical skills you can exhibit at a public park. if the council can put one in that is operable between the hours of 5.30pm-7.30pm, it would be resourceful.

    Obviously if the BBQ is getting a lot of use, there is also an opportunity or claim that the council expand the BBQ area, so there is 2 or more BBQs. Another letter to write.

    Your neighbour is both right and wrong. If you have the skills to use the said bbq, and perhaps be disrupting them, they deserve a cut of your cooking. Respectfully provide a bento box 1-2 time a week of your fine public bbq cooking and let them know your are an enthusiast appreciative of a quality bbq facility, and not the electricity scab you are deep down inside.

    And finally, you need a friend or family member with you while you use the bbq. if you're using it alone, you risk looking sad. perhaps check out airtasker for someone to support BBQ scabbing each and every night.

    • Scrooge McDuck on 05/06/2018 - 09:27

      If OP can provide a tent in the park, [a friend] will do it every night.

    • TheRealCher on 05/06/2018 - 18:26

      Surely some bikies would be easier?

  • Randxyz123 on 04/06/2018 - 14:37
    +4

    Wow.
    I mean fair play to use the public bbq when you have friends over, but what you’re doing is just extreme. You save $300 a year which is $20 a month. Are you serious????

    Surely by the time you get hot water for your bath to the bath, it’s warm water

    I have plugged an extension cord into an outlet that is near their pool equipment but I only did so to power a lamp and a blender

    Wtf
    So you did steal their electricity so you could cook your pumpkin soup on a bloody park bbq ?

    I’d start packing your stuff and get ready to move. If you didn’t do that you could probably get away with the bbq.

    • D6C1 on 05/06/2018 - 17:25
      +1

      You save $300 a year which is $20 a month. Are you serious????

      Where's mathnerd when you need him?

      $20 a month is $240 a year.

      $25 a month is what the OP is saving.

      • Randxyz123 on 05/06/2018 - 18:14

        Yes I meant $25. Never do maths without coffee

  • John Kimble on 04/06/2018 - 14:41
    +2

    Here's where things get a little interesting.

    The previous parts were already gold!

    Can someone on a PC add this to https://www.ozbargain.com.au/wiki/epic_threads please?

    Thanks!

  • pantsparty on 04/06/2018 - 14:44
    +3

    I hope this is a joke post. I am all for saving money but you are living a bit too frugally to only save a few hundred dollars. Use your own damn kitchen and power outlets and move on. You seriously heat water on the public bbq for your bath? Ridiculous claims like this are what make me think you are trolling.

    • ego22 on 04/06/2018 - 21:10
      +5

      No troll. Ive known and currently work with somone who does extreme things like this to save money, they feel no embarrassment. They legitimately think they are in the right.

  • John Kimble on 04/06/2018 - 14:47
    +12

    Did you by any chance recently have a relationship with a homeless woman too?

  • John Kimble on 04/06/2018 - 14:49
    +13

    I hope you are not wasting money on buying food to cook too? That would be a large expense also. You can get free food from bins and dumpsters.

    Do you use the parks public toilets instead of your own also?

    • CocaKoala on 05/06/2018 - 14:57
      +1

      You can get free food from bins and dumpsters.

      And where do you think the OP got the pumpkin for the soup?

      • roguescholar on 05/06/2018 - 20:06

        Probably got it from the neighbours yard, OP didn't even need to over their fence to reach it.

  • [Deactivated] on 04/06/2018 - 14:53
    +6

    You're knowingly using recreational public facilities as your primary method of cooking. You know what you're doing is wrong. You're looking for public opinion to ease your mind on a technicality.

    You know that the electrical point is not yours to use and more than likely being paid for by someone else. You're hoping that your actions can be misconstrued as ignorance.

    I'd start packing. Your neighbours are rightfully on to you.

  • Donaldhump on 04/06/2018 - 14:56
    +1

    that $300 you have saved, surely must be worth it compared to the 100 odd hours of inconvenience.

    you sir are a true bum, and i once caught my neighbor plugging an extension cable through the fence into my pool power point, and by the end his undies would have been so brown stained i don't think he even came out of his house again until he moved.

  • Baebs on 04/06/2018 - 14:58
    +8

    This has to be a (profanity) troll. I can't even.

  • bongom on 04/06/2018 - 15:03
    +2

    Public BBQ's are often also used as toilets?

  • cypher67 on 04/06/2018 - 15:23
    +6

    I was starting to shed a tear of admiration until you mentioned the bathing, then the troll appeared and ruined it.

  • myusername on 04/06/2018 - 15:51

    great first post troll

    ajhutton

    Member Since
    02/01/2018
    Last Login
    43 min ago
    Statistics
    1 posts / 2 comments
    Location
    Adelaide

    • ThithLord on 05/06/2018 - 07:38
      +3

      They registered back in January to post in June? That's some serious commitment to a troll post. I'm not buying it.

  • nomoneynoproblems on 04/06/2018 - 15:52
    +5

    Lol this is seriously 10/10 trolling. Well done.

  • Yummy on 04/06/2018 - 15:52

    Mod, can we save this thread pls?

    Stick it in a OzB's hall of fame section or anything like that. :D

  • coin saver on 04/06/2018 - 16:07
    +3

    If this clown is serious they probably call the council everyday complaining the BBQ has not been cleaned.

  • [Deactivated] on 04/06/2018 - 16:11
    +4

    DisabledUser90210 in 3… 2… 1…

  • twodollah on 04/06/2018 - 16:13
    +15

    I'm just commenting so I can be a part of history. I cannot wait to tell my future grandchildren that I was there when it all happened.

    • ego22 on 04/06/2018 - 21:04

      No, "A true ozbargainer who us breaking the glass ceiling award" goes to….

  • Baysew on 04/06/2018 - 16:47
    +2

    Only this morning someone was wondering OzBargain License Application Process while this OP is living the dream.

  • Elppa8 on 04/06/2018 - 16:58

    It was the risotto that was your undoing. You should have let your neighbours cook their sausages, now they have cooked your sausage goose.

  • GourmetFoodie on 04/06/2018 - 17:20
    +5

    Pics please or it didn't happen!

  • [Deactivated] on 04/06/2018 - 17:24
    +11

    start sleeping in the park, then you can save all that money from rent

    • JIMB0 on 05/06/2018 - 17:44

      He may be once evicted.

  • bobbified on 04/06/2018 - 20:02
    +4

    There's always someone that has to abuse "free" things. The BBQ was never put there for someone to use as their own personal kitchen.

    When the council removes the bbq, everyone that lives around or goes there will lose out - just because of that one person.

    But then again, OP doesn't even seem to think there's anything wrong with stealing electricity from the neighbour!

  • ego22 on 04/06/2018 - 21:02
    +2

    Omg i love everything about this!
    OP is not a troll. To much hilarious detail in this train wreck to be a troll. There is NO WAY he wasnt evicted from his last couple places, and clueless about each one lol.

  • lainey13 on 04/06/2018 - 21:27
    +1

    You're taking the piss mate!

  • Gandalf the Thrifty on 04/06/2018 - 21:43
    +1

    Excessively use public bbq and steal neighbour's electricity to save couple hundred bucks isn't an epic post.

    OP is an arse or needs to come up with a better troll story.

  • Laziofogna on 04/06/2018 - 22:28
    +2

    All this hassle to save $300 per year? You’re a sad person

  • tabitha731 on 05/06/2018 - 08:41

    as an earlier comment mentioned.. you're freeloading! if u can afford to pay your rent in a nice apartment, then u should also be able to pay for the utilities that come with said apartment! if you cant afford than then maybe you should think about having a flat-mate to help you out with your expenses. using electricity isnt all that much.. and why on earth would you be using all 4 burners to cook at the same time??!! are you feeding a crowd? plugging into a communal power-outlet is also ultimate tight@ss! its is meant for the cleaners to sue to clean the common areas & to power up common area equipment. not for personal consumption.. your rent doesn't not cover that much of our landlord's strata fees. maybe with all this frugality, you can afford to buy your own unit & see how much strata & council fees cost to fund this freeloading life of yours!

    • Quantumcat on 05/06/2018 - 09:30

      Did you even read the post? He has a back fence. It's a house or a unit, not an apartment.

  • Hithere on 05/06/2018 - 08:46
    +3

    I call shenanigans on the OP.

    Photos or it didn't happen.

  • TheSmegger on 05/06/2018 - 10:09
    +2

    I also suspect a troll, but, if not…. Then you Sir, are an arse.

  • skillet on 05/06/2018 - 10:56

    You are the Broden of all public bbq.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join