The heritage section of the Hotel Australasia will not be retained, after ‘Save the Pit’ campaigners, developer Rodney Thompson and Bega Valley Shire Council agreed to end negotiations on Friday.
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Mr Thompson successfully appealed Council’s rejection of his Development Application to demolish the 1905-built pub in the Land and Environment Court earlier this month, but offered to subdivide the front 10-15 metres and sell it for $500,000.
The ‘Save the Pit’ group had lobbied Councillors for support since Mr Thompson made the offer in early August, and had drawn up a draft business plan detailing future uses of the building as a commercial business and tourism operation.
The deal was contingent on the building's 1906 facade being restored, Mr Thompson had set a deadline of no longer than three weeks after the court’s decision was rubber-stamped a fortnight ago.
Following a meeting between the parties on Friday afternoon however, it was agreed that the proposal would not be able to go ahead.
“Time got us in the end; the developer is under pressure and he just didn’t have time in the end," Save the Pit campaigner Graeme Wykes said.
"He would’ve had to submit a brand new DA in order to subdivide the building, and unfortunately it couldn’t be done.
“We’re very happy with the effort Rodney Thompson put in to try and save the building, and also the support of Council.
“It’s just unfortunate that it’s come to this end.
“We’d like to thank the community for their wonderful offers of financial assistance, and also the practical and emotional support that people were investing in this project.
“We tried the hardest we could, but we couldn’t have done it without the town backing us.”
Fellow ‘Save the Pit’ member Peter Whiter echoed his sentiments.
“No matter how much we tried to negotiate the shape of the building, the fact is that it would’ve become two blocks of land where there is currently one,” he said.
“We’re talking about a year-long process for a new DA.
“Rodney [Thompson] has already spent 18 months waiting, and he’s not prepared to wait another year.”
The hotel will now be demolished to make way for a third Eden supermarket.
Terms of the court agreement signed by Great Southern Developments and Bega Valley Shire include provisions for the preservation of 1905-era building materials on-site.
Bega Valley Shire Council Mayor Bill Taylor declined to comment when contacted on Friday afternoon, but said Council will be issuing a press release either late on Friday, or on Monday morning.
Developer Rodney Thompson has also be contacted for comment, but the Magnet is yet to hear back.
More to come…