This week is National Heritage week but what has Eden to celebrate?
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The death knell for another heritage site seems to be outside the Eden community’s control. The nail in the coffin for the Hotel Australasia was driven when the BVSC did not list this building as a heritage item on the Local Environment Plan 2013.
How could this happen after so many people and organisations over the years have recognised Imlay St for its heritage value and have worked for its recognition? The Hotel Australasia features in tourist Heritage Walks brochures, both past and present. The Hotel Australasia features on the cover of Rene Davidson’s definitive book on Eden’s past, “Eden Revisited”.
So, it appears the main reason for the Hotel Australasia’s tragic fate is the complete ignorance of those who are paid to find out. This unforgivable verdict has enabled a property developer to maximise his financial gain since heritage constraints will not have to be addressed. For this, Eden has to pay the ultimate price.
No one opposes development of the Hotel Australasia site; however, there are excellent examples of developments where the old and new have been combined. One only has to go to Bega to witness the location of a very modern Target store within the restored Central Hotel.
At the heritage town of Leura in the Blue Mountains, a Woolworths’ supermarket development had to cease building until a more sympathetic design could be created. The scale of the building that is sited behind the main street, with access from a car park, had to be modified and the main street entrance changed to be in keeping with the heritage streetscape.
Eden could have had the best of both worlds, also, but instead we are likely to end up with nothing.
Of particular concern is the developer’s latest action where he has applied to modify his DA to allow him indefinite time to build after demolition has occurred. In Stage 1 the developer states “urgent demolition is required for safety reasons”. Stage 2 is the building phase but the required Section 94 Development Contribution of $453,000 to gain a Construction Certificate does not have to be paid till building is about to begin.
As a result Eden could have a vacant building site for some time!
So if you have concerns about the lasting effect of this modified DA could have on Imlay Street, lodge a submission with BVSC by Wednesday April 22. Online is the quickest option.