The unexpected deferral on Monday of council’s development application for the Wayzgoose building in Leura has been welcomed by Councillor Kerry Brown who said that council must now undertake basic maintenance on the building.
“Council has been given a sharp rap over the knuckles by the Independent Hearing and Assessment Panel for producing a well intentioned but rushed DA after their first DA met a wall of community loathing.
“The review of the DA required by the panel is substantial and will take many months to prepare. In the meantime, there is no excuse for continuing to keep the property decrepit and half empty.
“We don’t need a DA to make it safe and presentable.
“Shop one has been empty for 2½ years costing ratepayers almost $200,000 in lost rent. We could have fixed the whole building for less than that.”
Cr Brown said the panel’s deferral on Monday required council to prepare a schedule of conservation works for the restoration of the heritage building and to review the design for the new building.
“The only schedule of work provided in the DA was the NSW Master Building Inspectors’ report of June 2015. This estimated up to $90,000 for essential repairs if there were no live termites.
“This is not good enough for a heritage restoration but it gives a rough idea of basic maintenance in the meantime.”
Cr Brown said the panel’s major concern about the proposed new development was the inadequate integration between the old and new buildings, landscaping and public domain.
“There are specific concerns around materials used, roofline, junctions with the old building, detailing, windows and layout of the outdoor area.
“I spoke at the meeting echoing the disappointment of local architectural educator Kate Moore that sustainability principles had not been included as a matter of course in a design commissioned by this council.”
Cr Brown noted that the two people of whom the panel asked the most questions at the meeting were the architect and the longstanding tenant and owner of the Wayzgoose Café, Mark Alchin.
“I was very pleased to see Mr Alchin’s views and knowledge of the building finally be heeded and respected in a council arena.”
At last month’s council meeting Cr Brown lodged a question with notice for an itemised account of expenditure and foregone income on the building since June 2015. The answer will be provided for this month’s meeting.
