Northern Beaches Council backs down on plans to compulsorily acquire Pasadena
Northern Beaches Council has backed down on plans to compulsorily acquire the Pasadena, a controversial waterfront building.
Manly
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NORTHERN Beaches Council has backed down on plans to compulsorily acquire waterfront Church Point building Pasadena.
Instead, the council will now make a formal offer to the site’s owner Paul Peterkin for his consideration.
A rescission motion put forward by liberal Cr Rory Amon and independent Cr Alex McTaggart was debated in a confidential meeting of councillors on Wednesday, and passed unanimously.
“Ultimately where we got to was compulsorily acquisition is too risky,” Cr Amon said.
“What we are doing now is what we should have been doing all along, which is make an offer to buy and if he says no walk away, because compulsory acquisition is fraught with danger in so many ways.
“It is disappointing it has taken this long.”
A push to scrap plans to acquire the site — which was then intended to be converted into public space and carparking — picked up steam, with a long-planned refurb of the site nearing completion.
Pasadena, an 87-year-old building on the water’s edge at Church Point, was a popular wedding venue, motel and function centre but has been vacant since 2009.
Its deterioration led former council administrator Dick Persson sought to buy the building — by compulsory acquisition if necessary — after receiving a grant from Pittwater state MP Rob Stokes in August last year.
But with the building’s owner Paul Peterkin suggesting an opening is imminent, some councillors questioned just how much compulsory acquisition could end up costing ratepayers.
And community opinion appeared to sway toward keeping the site, with Cr Amon putting an online poll to the community.
Of 1860 respondents, 86 per cent called for the Pasadena to remain.
Mayor Michael Regan said this was a good outcome for the community.
“Removing the requirement for compulsory acquisition reduces the risk to Council and our ratepayers and gives us more flexibility to negotiate in good faith with the owner,” he said.
“Should we be successful in acquiring the property, we have always said that we will work with the community to develop a masterplan for the site which could include a lease arrangement for the building with restricted operating hours or other community uses.
“We could also look to change the zoning to prevent any further development of the site.”