This article is from the Australian Property Journal archive
CONTRITE cowboy developers who illegally demolished Carlton’s Corkman Irish Pub have pledged to rebuild the building.
Developers Stefce Kutlesovski and Raman Shaqiri who have hired a Labor party lobbyist and Labor party PR company, wrote to Victorian planning minister Richard Wynne, firstly to apologise for their actions and secondly, pledging to rebuild the historic pub.
This comes after the Victorian government and City of Melbourne launched legal action against the pair in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal to compel them to rebuild the pub.
Yesterday Minister Wynne also imposed a two-year design and development overlay on the site so planning controls on the corner of Leicester and Pelham streets maintain the size and scale of the original building.
“While these cowboy developers thumbed their noses at Victoria’s building and planning laws, we are sending a clear message that wilful and illegal destruction of our heritage will not be tolerated.
“We are also looking at new fines for commercial heritage buildings so owners face tougher penalties for illegal demolition, fines need to be a deterrent, not the cost of doing business in Victoria,” Wynne said.
“We can’t get the original Carlton Inn back but we can support legal action to require restitution of the building and amendment of the planning scheme to put strict controls on any future development of the site.” Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said.
The pair are currently under investigation from the Victorian Building Authority, the City of Melbourne’s Municipal Building Surveyor, the Environment Protection Authority, WorkCover and Heritage Victoria.
The VBA and council are looking at several breaches of the planning and building acts, such as building works without a permit, contravening a stop work order and building works without insurance.
Australian Property Journal
