It might be a sneakily removed tree, or unexpected building work, that raises your suspicions.

But be aware that Lake Macquarie City Council can respond to your anonymous whistle-blowing in different ways, depending on what you’re reporting, and how you do it.

The experience of a local man who recently phoned in an anonymous tip-off to council about suspected unauthorised building work in his neighbourhood has highlighted the issue.

Two weeks after providing the tip-off, the man phoned council to ask what had been done about his tip-off.

“But the council told me that because I had been anonymous, they wouldn’t tell me anything,” the man told the Lakes Mail. His concern was council could ignore anonymous tip-offs knowing it could dismiss  follow-up inquiries.

A spokesperson for Lake Macquarie City Council said it was all in the details.

“Council accepts anonymous requests from customers and as long as sufficient information is provided, the matter will be investigated,” the spokesperson said.

“Anonymous complaints can make it difficult for council to properly investigate a matter, as it is hard to obtain additional information from the complainant.”

A service request number allows council staff to quickly find and identify the report made by a complainant.

“People who choose to remain anonymous are not provided with a service request number, therefore council is unable to contact them or provide the customer with an update or outcome of the investigation,” they said.

“For issues that have the potential to become legal matters such as barking dog complaints or unauthorised developments, council discourages anonymous complaints as we may require contact details of a witness to the incident to assist with further investigations.”