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Urgent Meetings on Criterion HotelWellington Shire Council has arranged urgent meetings with Heritage Victoria and the Building Commission on the safety of the Criterion Hotel. By Wellington Shire Council - 24th July 2006 - Back to News The meetings are to being held in Melbourne this week.
"We are pleased that Heritage Victoria have stated they are prepared to restore the historic verandah at the hotel provided the owners agree," said Mr Lyndon Webb, Chief Executive Officer of Wellington Shire.
"However, council is seriously concerned that any action will be significantly delayed due to the hotel being up for sale.
"Unfortunately Council is faced with potentially a very serious public safety hazard at the hotel," said Mr Webb.
Council has already issued safety orders on hotel, and has paid several thousand dollars to erect protective scaffolding under the verandah.
‘This was meant to be a short term measure, but is costing Council $600 a week to maintain the protective scaffolding. In the meantime nothing is being done to restore the verandah.
"Unless there is immediate action from the owners or Heritage Victoria our obligations under the Building Act will force an order for the removal of the verandah," said Mr Webb.
Mr Webb said Council’s obligation under the Act to protect the public meant that it could not wait any longer for the situation with the hotel to resolve itself.
"We have a duty to act," said Mr Webb.
"And if our obligation requires the removal of the verandah for safety reasons then we have no choice but to act.
"While Council is keen to protect the historic hotel, the safety of pedestrians and the passing public must be our prime concern.
"We have tried many avenues over a period of several years for this matter to be resolved. We can wait no longer," said Mr Webb.
Council representatives hope that Heritage Victoria will be able to offer some solution this week that will enable the verandah to be safely retained.
"We will need a guarantee of immediate outcome from our meetings this week," said Mr Webb.
"If this is not forthcoming then we will have no choice but to order the removal of the verandah."
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: news@gippsland.com
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