Click on photos for larger versions.
Some background to how this sorry state of affairs has come about and continued, with part of the footpath now fenced off from public use with a detour taking up part of Mt Alexander Road. One presumes MVCC is charging the developers for the additional real estate they now occupy.
The derelict building, described by the Moonee Valley Council as a ‘’bombsite’’, has been the subject of heated debate since 2002 when VCAT overruled a council decision and granted permission for 39 units and townhouses to be built on the site, with a section of the original facade retained.
The council endorsed the amended plans in 2003 and the hotel closed in 2004. It has become increasingly derelict ever since.
Mayor Ben Opie said the council had repeatedly called on the owner to secure and fix up the vandalised site.
When one of the four notices issued was ignored, the council dispatched its own graffiti cleaners and invoiced the owners, although this bill has yet to be paid.
‘’They wouldn’t do it, they just ignored us,’’ Cr Opie said.
Ben, Ben, Ben! Are you telling us that you don't have the legal power to pursue this matter or are you telling us that MVCC doesn't have the will or determination to enforce the law and recoup the ratepayers' money spent on removing the graffiti? Graffiti which incidently is back up on the wall bigger and better than ever.
Former Australian cricketer turned developer Craig McDermott, through his company Maxen Developments, is co-developer with owners the Phoenix Financial Group.
Cr Opie said the owners had failed to safely maintain the building, which led to ‘’heavy vandalism’’ and squatters living inside.
Ben "I'm inspired by the Greens' philosophy to 'Think Globally, Act Locally'" Opie, can you also tell us how long this ('local') footpath will be out of action, how long this ('local') section of Mt Alexander Rd will remain narrowed, how many more years will this ('local') blot on the ('local') landscape remain, or is it all too, too hard? Seems like Craig's 'Maxen Developments' is playing MVCC off a break.
A locally global answer would be welcome ... or even a globally local answer. Stuff it! Let's cut to the chase. ANY answer would be welcome.
To assist Ben and his fallow (sic) MVCC councillors in the consideration of this issue we post the following extract from Moonee Valley's own Environment Local Law 1999.
(CLICK ON IMAGE BELOW FOR LARGER VERSION)
Take another look at the photos above (even better wander down to the corner of Mt Alexander Rd. and Brewster St) and tell us which of the sections from 9.1.1 to 9.1.6 wouldn't apply to the current condition of The Brickmakers Arms.
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