Demolition order out of time

Demolition of buildings at the former Bonlac site in Warragul has not proceeded within the timeframe set down last year by Latrobe Valley Magistrates Court.

Developers of the site Warren and Diane Turner received a Baw Baw Shire planning permit in September last year to demolish all buildings on the site, including those with a heritage overlay.

The planning permit related to buildings on the land at 121 Queen St. A court order handed down separately by the magistrates’ court also instructed the Turners to demolish the buildings within 180 days.

Shire growth and economic development director Matthew Cripps said the court order expired six months ago.

Mr Cripps said council officers had been working with the applicant to resolve all outstanding issues.

“However, given the lack of movement and inability to achieve the desired outcome within the timeframe, we are now seeking alternative ways to bring the matter to a head,” he said.

Mr Cripps said the council planning permit to remove all buildings on the site had been extended to allow the demolition works to proceed.

He said all conditions of the planning permit had been resolved.

“Council has ensured there are no impediments from a planning perspective for the works to occur.

He said there was a safety issue with buildings on the site and council needed to ensure those issues were resolved to ensure anyone on the site or community members on adjoining sites were safe.

“The court previously determined the buildings were unsafe.

“There is some concern about asbestos but it is primarily the structural integrity of the buildings. There is a lot of external cladding that is not secured,” he said.

Mr Cripps said the period of compliance for the court order expired about six months ago. “We have been working with the applicant to try to resolve it in a timely manner.

“Now we will look at having the site comply with the building surveyor’s report,” he said.