Demolish or protect?

A DECISION on whether a deteriorating 1857 homestead with structural concerns will be protected by a heritage overlay or demolished is likely to be left in the hands of an independent panel.
The owners of Claremont Homestead at 12-16 Kinsmead Street, Waurn Ponds, planned to demolish the building to make way for new housing, however the City of Greater Geelong stepped in to block the demolition and consider a heritage overlay for the site.
The overlay would require a planning scheme amendment, which was proposed by the council and public submissions on the plan to protect the homestead were invited.
Thirty-six submissions were received, two which made no comment, three submissions from the affected landowners opposing the amendment and the remainder supporting the amendment with proposed changes to design guidelines.
An initial inspection from a distance indicated the building was in fair condition however a close inspection revealed “a clear picture of deterioration of the dwelling and concludes that the only existing elements of Claremont Homestead that can remain (in part) are the roof framing, and subfloor timber framing, along with the two northern chimneys”.
A report to council said the “engineering assessment raised structural concerns regarding the integrity of the building, and in response the Municipal Building Surveyor has issued an emergency order to require the site to be fenced with protective site fencing to prevent access to
the building”.
Councillors were asked to consider whether condition was a valid consideration when identifying heritage places and protecting them with a heritage overlay.
They unanimously decided that the council should ask the Planning Minister to appoint an independent panel and that all submissions and council officers’ responses to the submissions be submitted to the panel for consideration in its deliberation.