Belcher cry for help
CBD DEMOLITION DRAMA
THE embattled owners of the doomed Belcher’s Corner in Geelong’s CBD will today ask VCAT to appoint an administrator to handle the demolition of the building.
Belcher’s Corner owners corporation committee chairman Nathan Holmes said the owners corporation and several individual owners had put in an application in to VCAT for an appointment of an administrator “who would have power over the owners corporations and they could decide levies, whatever actions needs to be taken to comply with the orders”.
“There’s two ways we could pay for (the demolition) … to raise levies on the owners, pay for it out of our own pockets,” he said.
“The other option is to sell the property.
“Unfortunately, the owners aren’t in a position to pay levies and we need unanimous agreement to sell the property and we’ve been unable to achieve that.”
Mr Holmes said “we’re still looking at around a million dollars for the demolition but that’s on top of the close to million dollars that’s already been spent”.
The three-hour hearing is scheduled for today in Melbourne, with City of Greater Geelong listed as an interested party.
The large 1920s-era building, which is at the corner of Ryrie and Moorabool Streets, has been shut since late July, after it was found to be at risk of collapse and a danger to the public.
An emergency order for the demolition of the 27-lot building by December 31 was issued by the City of Greater Geelong in September.
The owners corporation lodged a demolition plan with council in October.
Mr Holmes said council, which has been conducting works to stabilise the building in recent weeks, had “taken control” of the building at this point in time.
“The council has the right under the emergency order ... if the owners can’t fund the works the council can step in and do it and then recover the costs,” he said.
City of Greater Geelong Director Planning and Development Gareth Smith said “we have been working with the owners to have the demolition complete by the due date.”
“Once an administrator has been appointed, we will arrange a meeting to discuss the requirements of the emergency order,” Mr Smith said.
“The city is undertaking stage one of the demolition works, which includes stabilisation of the building to ensure it can be dismantled safely, as agreed with the owners.
“Community safety will continue to be the number one priority at all times.”
Mr Holmes last month indicated that several of the 20 owners faced losing their investments.
He said some of them were staring down the barrel of bankruptcy.
“Some people will find themselves unable to recover financially,” he said.