Is $80,000 in costs too severe following the illegal cliff earthworks?

Opinion

A lifestyle block owner will have to pay more than $80,000 for illegally cutting a path through a sea cliff so his children could walk down to the beach.
Judge Fred McElrea says it was a serious piece of damage to public land in a very sensitive situation with a high degree of recklessness. He fined the 43-year-old owner $20,000 and ordered him to pay $1260 in costs. The land owner already faces a $60,000 bill for fixing the damage to the coastal esplanade.
Is $80,000 in costs too severe following the illegal cliff earthworks? Here is the latest selection of Your Views: