The Bega Valley Shire Residents and Ratepayers Association (BVSRRA) has objected to an application to modify the current development consent for the development of the Hotel Australasia site in Imlay Street, Eden.
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In its submission to Bega valley Shire Council (BVSC) in response to the application, the BVSRRA noted that the only reason offered by the owner in support of the application is: “The existing building on the site is in a dilapidated state and to prevent the potential serious risk of injury to persons illegally entering the property urgent demolition is required.”
In opposing the application, the BVSRRA noted that:
- it is the responsibility of the owner of the building to secure, protect and guard the site and to take all necessary steps to prevent any potential risk of injury to any person, including preventing such injuries from occurring to any person attempting to gain entry to the site;
- there is nothing to prevent the owner from pursuing the immediate demolition of the existing building, subject only to obtaining a construction certificate from Bega Valley Shire Council (BVSC), which would be available subject only to the payment to BSC of the Section 94 development contributions of $453,100;
- if the Application to Modify the development consent is approved by BVSC, the owner will be able to proceed with the immediate demolition of the existing building, but without having to pay the applicable Section 94 development contributions and that such contributions would only become payable at some time in the future when the construction of any proposed new buildings was scheduled to commence, which could be a matter of years, if at all.
- The BVSRRA believes that the effect of the proposed modification, if approved, would be to confer significant commercial advantage on the owner of the site whilst effectively delaying, if not potentially denying Council access to significant revenue to which it is otherwise entitled, to the detriment of residents/ratepayers.
- At the same time, the BVSRRA is deeply concerned that if BVSC approves the application to modify the existing development consent and the existing building is demolished, the amenity of the main street of Eden could be scarred by the existence of a substantial fenced empty space for years, marking the destruction of yet another priceless historic monument to our shared history and that of the Eden community in the name of commercial mediocrity.
For the above reasons, the BVSRRA strongly opposes the approval of the application to modify the current development consent and encourages all residents/ratepayers to voice their opposition to the application.
John Richardson
Secretary
Bega Valley Shire Residents and Ratepayers Association