Belcher’s bill tops $1.5m

Owners in race against time

OWNERS of the doomed Belcher’s Corner building say they are in a race against time to avoid criminal prosecution.

Earlier this month the Geelong council issued an emergency order requiring the 1920s-era building on the corner of Ryrie and Moorabool streets to be demolished by December 31, after testing showed it could soon collapse.

Owners’ corporation committee spokesman Nathan Holmes said the owners are facing a $1.5 million price tag to comply with emergency orders.

And he says the owners are being threatened with criminal prosecution if they do not meet tight deadlines on the complex demolition.

“We’ve got emergency orders, under the threat of criminal prosecution if we don’t comply, with very hefty fines being threatened,” Mr Holmes said.

“The timelines haven’t done us any favours, that’s for sure. It’s the expectation that we pull together some fairly complex and challenging tasks in a very short period of time.”

Mr Holmes said the demolition order applied to 20 owners of the building’s 27 lots.

Testing has shown the building’s basement masonry retaining walls, supporting footpaths and road reserves in Ryrie and Moorabool streets, were in danger of collapsing, the facade of the building facing both streets.

Columns and beams impacted by severe concrete cancer did not meet CFA standards for fire resistance.

Building owners are required to submit a demolition plan to council for approval by October 12, just over a month after the emergency order was issued. The plan must detail how adjoining sites will be stabilised.

Mr Holmes said owners are hoping to use the site as a development opportunity.