Corkman pub demolition may prove very costly

THE developers who demolished the historic Corkman pub face fines of more than $1.2 million after pleading guilty to illegally dumping rubbish.

THE developers accused of demolishing the historic Corkman pub face fines of more than $1.2 million after admitting illegally dumping ­rubbish and breaching a pollution order.

Stefce Kutlesovski, Raman Shaqiri and their two companies faced a raft of charges over the illegal demolition of the 1880s hotel in Carlton.

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Illegal dumping of industrial waste carries a maximum fine of $373,104 per offence, while breaking a pollution order carries a maximum fine of $46,638.

The offences faced over the Corkman demolition carry a cumulative maximum penalty of $1.25 million.

Phil Copsey's family ran the now demolished Corkman Irish pub in the 1940s when it was the Carlton Inn. Picture: Alex Coppel

The 159-year-old brick building was torn down without approval in October 2016, an act that outraged the public and prompted legal action from several bodies.

An EPA spokesman could not comment on the status of the charges.

The Herald Sun understands the men and their firms will be sentenced in August.

The EPA laid 15 charges against Mr Kutlesovski and Mr Shaqiri and their companies, 160 Leicester Pty Ltd and Cairnlea Pty Ltd.

The EPA alleged that after the pub was knocked down, demolition waste was illegally dumped in Cairnlea. The Victorian Building Authority and Melbourne City Council are also pursuing the pair over the demolition.

The offences faced over the demolition of the historic Corkman Irish pub carry a cumulative maximum penalty of $1.25 million.

The council is finalising a planning scheme amendment that would provide for a total rebuild of the pub and provide heritage protection.

The pub’s owners initially apologised and promised to rebuild the hotel in the weeks after the demolition. But they soon changed tack, challenging council orders to clean up the site.

A spokesman for Planning Minister Richard Wynne said he could not comment while the case was pending.

“We’ve introduced new legislation that provides unprecedented protection of Victoria’s valued heritage assets,” he said.

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