No action to save Broadway from collapse but owner ‘wants it restored’
He previously said it was too far gone, but the owner of a fire-damaged Brisbane heritage hotel has changed his tune.
Southeast
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TWO days out from the cut-off to carry out works to save heritage landmark the Broadway Hotel from collapse, the owner says they are still working on a proposal.
After losing a court appeal against an enforcement notice from Brisbane City Council in November, the owner has until February 29 to comply.
Under the notice the owner is required to secure the walls of the building and install support systems for the fire-ravaged building.
After previously arguing the structural integrity of the building was too far gone to be restored, owner Malcolm Nyst today said he shared the public’s desire to restore the building.
“We are working with council to get a good proposal done as soon as we can,” Dr Nyst said.
“We, like many of the people of Brisbane, share their desire to see it retained, restored. We will just have to see what happens I guess pertaining to the structural viability of the project.”
Dr Nyst would not make further comment about the hotel.
Fire broke out at the heritage-listed hotel again on Friday but emergency services were able to quickly contain the fire.
Councillor Jonathan Sri (Woolloongabba) said there appeared to be no evidence of any work at the site.
“I think that State Government and the Council should be issuing heavy fines to the owner because the owner has not done enough to look after the property,” Cr Sri said.
“It is clear that our heritage protection powers in this state are too weak because this hotel is still just sitting there, it is still catching fire, so clearly from both levels of government not enough has been done.
Cr Sri said the council and State Government should buy back the site.
“I have nothing personal against the owner but it is quite clear this site is not getting the protection it deserves while it remains in private ownership,” he said.
He said the only chance for the hotel to be restored would be for it to come under public ownership and be restored as a community facility.
“That is the best way to both protect the hotel and to ensure that we have enough community facilities in the area,” he said.
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