Councillor Sharon Tapscott has asked for an update on the future of the Hotel Australasia, and says the issue will most likely be discussed at or before the next council meeting.
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Cr Tapscott has also taken forward a letter of request from ex-councillor Fraser Buchanan, who has proposed that Council put the $750,000 of funding allocated to Action on Imlay on hold, and consider instead using it to purchase the heritage section of the Hotel Australasia and restore the building’s 1906 façade (see previous story below for details).
“I’ve asked for an update and passed on Fraser’s request, but as the issue wasn’t on the agenda for yesterday’s meeting there hasn’t been a discussion as yet,” Cr Tapscott said.
“[The timeline is] most likely the next council meeting, though I’m not sure yet what is planned for next week’s workshops.
“Once there has been a discussion, Fraser will receive a formal letter of reply, and I will endeavour to get that to him as soon as possible.”
The Magnet attempted to contact Hotel Australasia developer Rodney Thompson for comment on whether his offer to sell the heritage section back to the community for $500,000 still stands, but he did not answer calls on Thursday morning.
As of 10am on Thursday, 303 people had voted in the Magnet’s online poll asking which project the community would prefer to see funded.
Saving the Hotel Australasia had received 162 votes, with 139 for Action on Imlay, and two voters undecided.
The NSW Heritage Network has also called upon councillors to readdress the situation surrounding the historic pub.
In a letter to councillors, Council heritage adviser Pip Giovanelli and the Magnet, Heritage Network spokesperson Leesha Payor said Mr Giovanelli’s May 2013 assessment of the hotel proved its benefit to the community.
Mr Giovanelli’s assessment which concluded the building had attained at least, local heritage status for entry into the Comprehensive Local Environment Plan 2013, and said the front 15 metres of the building are “potentially very valuable tourist element”, and that retaining that section in front of the proposed supermarket would “appear to be a workable strategy”.
“The NSW Heritage Network strongly supports the conclusions of Council’s Heritage Advisor’s report,” Ms Payor’s letter said.
“We continue to hold the firm stance that this report remains the most important material consideration to any development application regarding this historic building, together with the guidance to retaining this building in adaptive reuse with future development proposals.
“It is crucial when planning for new buildings in a community, we start from an understanding of what people love and value about that place and ensure any new development is sympathetic to the local context it sits in.
“The community’s remarkable, proactive endeavours since the development application was made, has proven this site and its surrounds, has every ability to return to being the Eden township’s chief public space.”
Bega Valley Shire Council will this week consider a proposal to divert the $750,000 allocated to Action on Imlay, and use it instead to purchase the heritage section of the Hotel Australasia and restore the building’s 1906 façade.
Ex-councillor Fraser Buchanan is behind the idea, and is calling on the Eden community to contact councillors and “send a message” about where they believe the money should be spent.
“I think the Eden community would be better served to have that $750,000 spent on the hotel, rather than on upgrades to the main street,” Mr Buchanan said.
“A lot of work has been done on the main street over the last decade, and I think that we would benefit more by keeping a historic building.
“It needs to be there for Eden’s future – we’re relying on tourism but as soon as things like this are gone, it’s just another town.
“I’d like the people to send a strong message to the councillors about where they want to see this money spent – if they hear it clearly, it will be hard to ignore.”
Mr Buchanan’s idea has received support from sections of the community, in the ‘Save The Pit from Demolition’ Facebook group.
If saved and restored, a draft business plan prepared by ‘Save the Pit' campaigners details potential uses for the front 15 metres of the hotel, including a wine or tapas bar, Bundian Way office, indigenous art gallery, community radio station and hostel-style accommodation.
Bega Valley Shire councillor Sharon Tapscott said she will present Mr Buchanan’s proposal to councillors at Wednesday’s council meeting.
Cr Tapscott said while she is personally “not a big fan” of the idea, it is up to the council to decide whether it is a potential option.
She said the benefits of the planned street upgrades include improved gateway signage, drainage, disability access and an overall beautification including community art, with the levelling of the street and resealing works to provide a safer pathway.
Cr Tapscott said improved links from the CBD to Snug Cove and Aslings Beach are also an important part of the plans, which were decided upon in consultation with the community.
“By no means am I saying we should give up on the hotel, but we’re very excited about getting Action on Imlay going, and our focus group has just had its first meeting,” she said.
“We’re ready to get going and you’ll start to see things happening after Christmas, and the timeline for the roadworks to begin is around Easter.
“Both the Federal and State governments, along with Council, are spending millions of dollars at the wharf to try and attract people.
“We need something to get them down there, and Action on Imlay will help us do that.”
Eden builder Peter Whiter, who led the ‘Save the Pit’ campaign in an attempt to persuade Council to buy back the front 15 metres of the hotel, agreed with Cr Tapscott.
He said while he wants to see the building saved, he doesn’t believe it should come at the expense of a “much-needed makeover” for Imlay Street.
“I still don’t believe the hotel is worthy of demolition – I think that, with the original façade, it would be a very worthy part of our main street,” he said.
“But I don’t feel that the chance for the entire street to receive a much-needed makeover should be jeopardised at all because of the hotel.
“A lot of people have put a lot of time and effort into the Action on Imlay planning, and to take money away from that would be wrong.”
The Magnet attempted to contact Hotel Australasia developer Rodney Thompson for comment on whether his offer to sell the heritage section back to the community for $500,000 still stands, but he did not return calls on Monday.
Under Mr Buchanan's proposal, the remainder of the money allocated to Action on Imlay would be put towards restoring the 1906 façade – the cost of which has been estimated at around $300,000.