Broadway Hotel fire ‘shows breakdown in heritage laws’

THE State Government has hit back at suggestions it did not do enough to protect the now-destroyed Broadway Hotel, and said it was the owners’ responsibility to ensure the building was safe.

THE destruction of the landmark Broadway Hotel in Woolloongabba at the weekend highlights a breakdown in enforcing heritage laws, the local councillor says.

The distinctive late-1800s building was destroyed by a suspicious fire early on Sunday.

A crime scene has been established at the site.

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Hotel destroyed

It was the third fire since 2010, and in recent times the building has also been defaced with vandalism, windows were broken and squatters had inhabitated it at various periods.

Majella Property Developments, headed by former premier Campbell Newman’s brother-in-law Seb Monsour, had been trying to build a 27-level residential project on the site but recently withdrew a development application and resubmitted a DA through a different process.

The property is owned by local doctor Malcolm Nyst, who had an agreement to sell it to Majella.

There is no suggestion Mr Monsour, Mr Newman or Mr Nyst are in any way linked to the fire and Mr Newman has never been in business with Mr Monsour.

It is also understood Mr Nyst approached the State Government and asked if boarding up the property would be sufficient to protect it, and was told that it was adequate protection.

Greens councillor for The Gabba Jonathan Sri said the long deterioration of the building showed existing heritage protections were not working.

Police on the scene of the Broadway Hotel fire at Woolloongabba. Picture: Annette Dew

“Section 84 of the Queensland Heritage Act says there are powers to ensure heritage properties are maintained, in this case the Council had the power to ensure it was protected from things such as fire,’’ Cr Sri said.

“There are a few different powers which could have been used to protect it.

“This (fire) shows a broader problem where the State Government passes the buck to Council.

“I think the State Government also needs to take responsibility because it was clear the council was failing to protect the building.’’

Cr Sri said it was imperative council and the State Government now did not allow an approval for a residential high-rise to go ahead on the actual hotel footprint, as that would act as an “incentive’’ for other developers to not maintain their heritage properties.

Environment Minister Leeanne Enoch, whose department has responsibility for heritage, said she was saddened to hear about the fire at the Broadway Hotel, which has been on the Queensland Heritage Register since 1992 when the Heritage Act came into force.

“I am also deeply concerned about the misleading information being relayed in the community by Brisbane City Councillor, Jonathan Sr,’’ Ms Enoch said.

“The Queensland Government has played an active role in ensuring the protection of the Broadway Hotel by requiring the owner to take action to ensure compliance with heritage laws.

“It is the responsibility of property owners to ensure a heritage place is protected from damage or deterioration.

“The Department of Environment and Science has conducted regular inspections of the Broadway Hotel site, including on May 31, July 4 and August 13 this year.

“The Department has also been corresponding directly with the owner regarding issues with compliance.’’

She said her Department asked the owner twice this year to ensure the property was secure after multiple concerns were raised by the community, including a gate being left open.

“The Queensland Government has engaged an engineer to provide advice regarding the structural condition of the building and will hold further discussions with relevant stakeholders about the best way forward following the fire,” she said.

Neighbouring councillor Kara Cook (Morningside) called for an urgent overhaul of the City Plan to ensure any future development of the Broadway Hotel site was “like for like”.

“Stringent restriction must be put on any further development on the site,” Cr Cook said.

“I can’t see why the council wouldn’t protect Brisbane’s character and ensure that the façade and character of the building is reinstated.

“Brisbane is sick of seeing our heritage go up in smoke.”

The Broadway Hotel fully ablaze in the early hours of Sunday

She said there was precedent for this type of planning restriction, citing the Red Hill Skate Rink which burnt down in 2002.

“The council immediately moved to protect the site,” Cr Cook said. “Stringent requirement on future development was implemented to ensure the façade was maintained and the site’s cultural heritage was preserved. Last month, work began to redevelop the site into a cinema.”

City Planning Chairman Matthew Bourke said council had been clear to former development applicants that it would not approve any redevelopment of the Broadway Hotel that didn’t retain the heritage features of the property.

“Council will not approve any future development application that doesn’t have the full support of the State Government’s heritage experts,” Cr Bourke said.

“Any proposal put to council will be put to the State Government for its approval and ability to set conditions for the owners to repair the heritage features of the building.”

The State Heritage Department was contacted for comment but did not respond before publication.