City Council provides info to police on suspicious Hamilton house fires

Brisbane’s Deputy Mayor has confirmed Brisbane City Council has provided information to the police in relation to two suspicious fires on neighbouring properties earmarked for a large scale development.

Brisbane’s Deputy Mayor has confirmed Brisbane City Council has provided information to the police in relation to this week’s suspicious Hamilton house fires, which involved two properties that had been earmarked for a large scale development.

In a statement, the City’s Deputy Mayor and City Planning Chair Krista Adams said the City Council had contacted police over the neighbouring Nudgee Rd homes, which were destroyed in two separate fires on Sunday and Tuesday.

The second fire on Nudgee Road in Hamilton this week is being investigated. Picture: Annette Dew

“We are aware of fires at two properties in Hamilton this week,” a statement from Ms Adams said.

“Council has provided information to QPS that a development application is under assessment relating to these sites.”

Further questions, including what the status of the proposed development was prior to the fire, and if the BCC will investigate the circumstance of the fire, went unanswered.

“While an investigation remains underway, Council can provide no further comment at this stage,” the statement from Ms Adams said.

Police have confirmed both blazes are being treated as suspicious as they work to determine if the two fires are linked.

It was yesterday revealed both homes that burnt down on Nudgee Rd in the lucrative and bustling riverside suburb of Hamilton are owned by the same development company, Delkins Project 1 Pty Ltd.

The owner and sole director of the company is property developer Sasha Hopkins, who is not accused of any wrongdoing in relation to any of the fires.

Mr Hopkins has been in the media for what he calls “the $55 million dollar fast property plan,” where he claims to be able to help like minded people retire young by making good development investments.

Fire fighters work to salvage the home. Picture: Annette Dew.

Both homes that burnt down on Nudgee Rd this week were earmarked for a large scale development, comprised of 11 townhouses.

Records show if approved, the proposed development would be situated across 89-91 and 93-95 Stevenson St, Ascot, as well as 24 and 20-22 Nudgee Rd, Hamilton.

The publicly available records also show Delkins Project 1 Pty Ltd and the BCC have been liaising over the development since October 26, 2020, with development application documents still ongoing.

The documents highlight there had been several recommendations made by the BCC made to the company in relation to the two houses that burnt down if the company wanted to go ahead with their development.

Recent letters show the company had asked for more time to make the recommended changes to the pre 1946 homes, which were not able to be demolished and were to be included in the townhouse complex. 

Fire crews line the street at the scene of a house fire in Hamilton. Picture: Annette Dew

Mr Hopkins was called by The Courier-Mail for comment in relation to his two destroyed properties.

On Tuesday he said he was in Melbourne in lockdown and was not across the specifics of what had occurred. 

He was also initially unsure on the dates of the development documentation with the Council.

He later contacted The Courier-Mail and said he wished not to comment. 

Nobody has been charged in relation to any of the fires.