Demolition plan for derelict Brunswick Hoffman Brickworks building
Brunswick’s Hoffman Brickworks developer has been ordered to clean up two buildings by the environmental watchdog after extensive contamination was found at the Dawson St site. But experts have said its removal is impossible without demolition.
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A derelict building at the historic 157-year-old Brunswick brickworks site needs to be demolished to comply with an environmental clean up notice, the developer says.
The Environment Protection Authority has issued the compulsory removal notice to the owner of Hoffman Brickworks after the discovery of extensive contamination at the property.
The authority found the historical use of the Dawson St site as a former brick manufacturing operation had led to the soil being saturated with potentially dangerous hydrocarbons.
It warned the surrounding area could be impacted if not cleaned up.
The abandoned factory has had a chequered recent history with the roof collapsing earlier this month and shutting the road until Monday.
The building was also damaged by a mattress fire in March 2018 and has been used as a refuge by the homeless in the past.
The developer, Hoffman Brickworks Pty Ltd, said independent consultants had verified structural engineer reports that found the extent of the soil and groundwater contamination and the extensive multimillion-dollar clean up would be impossible without the building being demolished.
The order involves excavation up to 6m below the factory floor and there are fears an 8m high wall will collapse.
There are also safety fears with bringing heavy machinery onsite to clean up the contamination.
Heritage Victoria will need to give approval before the building can be demolished.
The clean up order applies to building five and six at the brickworks site.
“We intend to fully comply with the EPA order and work closely with all authorities, including Heritage Victoria, to clean up this site to make it safe for the entire neighbourhood,’’ a Hoffmans Brickworks spokesman said.
“We are very proud of what we have helped create so far and we are determined to finish what we started for real community benefit.’’
The developers, who purchased the site in 1996, have been working with Heritage Victoria on finalising a new vision for the precinct, including a carbon-neutral mixed use residential building built from bricks recycled from the site, shared community spaces, a cafe, urban farm and a museum to celebrate its history.
The Dawson St building is the final piece of the brickworks development which has seen a number of heritage buildings reused and combined with new construction at the site, including The Kilns, The Gatehouse and Brickworks Loft & Apartments.
A long-running community campaign Save the Brickworks has been working to protect its heritage assets and has raised concerns about the demolition of the two buildings due to the impact on the historical, scientific and technological significance of the site as a whole.
The Brickworks the highest level of heritage protection available in Victoria and operated until 1993.
The roof has collapsed on a vacant warehouse in Brunswick. https://t.co/5zYfOfohG3 #7NEWS pic.twitter.com/cLXzaXcqQZ
— 7NEWS Melbourne (@7NewsMelbourne) June 12, 2020
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