Go for it and roll these guys. This is not a short term project and will take alot of work, but it is most definitely worth it.
Our society is founded on democratic principles which include civic action. The steps are:
1. Talk to you neighbours – basically anyone who will listen, about all of the below.
2. Submit your questions / requests for information / action to be taken to the EC in writing and keep track of all your correspondence. These form the basis of informal conversations with neighbours, don’t discriminate – talk to anyone and everyone, including those who may be on the EC (sounds like you may not know who these are?) Be nice, but ask lots of ‘dumb questions’ strategically.
3. Phone and email the strata manager regularly, ask strategic questions politely and nicely.
3. Use the advise line at the CTTT, (I am in NSW) and ask them questions about any issues / concerns you have. Call back and ask the same questions again if you think you are being fobbed off.
4. Turn up to every meeting – EC / AGM, especially EGM/ AGM. If at all possible actually get yourself onto the EC at the AGM. Ask the strata manager how this is done, then ask the CTTT also. Do it properly so that if you manage to get on the EC this can not be disputed. This may not be possible.
Hopefully by now you now have a couple of other owners who are equally concerned.
5. Get a copy of the strata roll, check with the CTTT how to do this, and then write carefully to all owners about your concerns, based on the evidence you have been carefully collecting over time. Time this strategically to coincide with the AGM.
6. Make sure there are you have organised for the inclusion of appropriate agenda items on the agenda of the AGM that allows progress to be made, this may be the rescinding of that troublesome by-law.
If there are no AGM’s happening then there is a whole different process, which others will need to deal with.
7. Good luck.
This process (hopefully) works if your are reasonable and nice, it is about the silent majority exerting their right to be governed in a responsible manner. This is about majority decisions, that is how democracy works, but there is nothing to say that good bit of lobbying can’t happen, based on information that is legally / strata correct.
Alley Cat