Wait on Belcher’s ruling
CITY Hall officers and administrators of condemned building Belcher’s Corner have met to discuss demolition plans for the site.
The City of Greater Geelong issued an emergency demolition order for the prominent building in September after the site on the corner of Moorabool and Ryrie streets was found to be riddled with concrete cancer and at risk of collapse.
Danetha Pty Ltd, which owns several lots at the troubled site, has lodged an appeal to cancel the emergency demolition order, according to the Victorian Building Authority.
The appeal was to be heard on February 14 but that date has been pushed back to tomorrow.
It is understood the matter before the appeals board concerns ownership of the building.
Nearly six weeks past its demolition deadline, it remains unclear when the building will come down.
The council has confirmed its representatives finally met with the building’s administrators earlier this month to discuss works undertaken to stabilise the building, demolition plans and potential development opportunities.
CoGG director of planning and development Gareth Smith said officers were hopeful the site would eventually be redeveloped.
“The city remains hopeful that the administrator will be able to progress demolition of the site and pursue opportunities for the site’s eventual rede- velopment,” Mr Smith said. “While the owners’ corporation is now in breach of the emergency demolition order, stabilisation works have been undertaken and the city’s engineers continue to monitor the building closely.
“As always, community safety remains our No. 1 priority.”
Problems with the building were first reported by the Geelong Advertiser last year.
Danetha Pty Ltd is registered at an address in the Melbourne suburb of South Yarra, according to ASIC documents.