Developers who illegally knocked down Carlton’s Corkman’s Pub fined $20,000 by EPA for demolition

A DEVELOPER who illegally knocked down Corkman’s Pub in Carlton said they “may have acted a little prematurely” as the EPA fines the two men $20,000 over the demolition.

Stefce Kutlesovski said he “regrets what’s happened but there were reasons behind it”. Picture: Hamish Blair

DEVELOPERS who illegally knocked down the 159-year-old Corkman’s Pub in Carlton said they were “sorry” and admitted they “may have acted a little prematurely”.

Stefce Kutlesovski, who had 24 hour security at his family home in Cairnlea because of fears of reprisals from the public, spoke exclusively with the Herald Sun today, claiming he “regrets what’s happened but there were reasons behind it”.

“There was legal advice, there was engineering advice and there was a risk to the public safety,” he said outside his luxurious home before getting into his BMW.

“We may have acted a little prematurely, but we acted.”

Mr Kutlesovski had 24 hour security at his family home because of fears of reprisals from the public. Picture: Hamish Blair

Mr Kutlesovski and Mr Shaqiri paid $4.76 million for the pub last August, with the vacant land initially estimated to be worth between $8 and 10 million.

Earlier this week, Environment Protection Authority officers found asbestos believed to be from the illegally demolished Carlton pub at a property out in Cairnlea, near St Albans.

The State Government is taking action at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Council to officially order the developers to rebuild the pub.

READ MORE: ‘Cowboys’ will rebuild smashed pub

But Mr Kutlesovski said there was always an intention to rebuild it.

“It took us a little while as we were advised not to speak to anybody while we were getting the plans and everything else sorted out,” he said.

The Corkman Irish Pub before it was knocked down.

The site where the Corkman Irish Pub stood before the unlawful demolition. Picture: AAP Image/Tracey Nearmy

When asked if Mr Kutlesovski was sorry for what’s happened he said: “We are, but on the flip side to that it was a risk to public safety so how do you measure and where do you measure and where does the scale sit.”

Mr Kutlesovski said, “I think we got to get to get over this part first” before setting a date to begin rebuilding the pub.

Mr Kutlesovski’s business partner Raman Shaqiri told the Herald Sun he was “very, very sorry” about what has happened.

He declined to comment further.

Minister for Planning Richard Wynne said today that demolishing the Corkman was a dangerous act, with no regard to public safety, the heritage of the building or the wishes of the community.

“We have been very clear that illegal demolition will not be tolerated,” Mr Wynne said.

“The VCAT action, combined with new controls to stop anything besides a pub from being built, are the right course of action after these developers blatantly disrespected the rules.”

The EPA today fined the company linked to the developers’ more than $15,000 for the Cairnlea dumping, which is in addition to a fine issued earlier this week over the Carlton site, bringing the total to over $20,000.

EPA Metro Manager Daniel Hunt said the company was handed the two fines for missing a deadline to cover waste containing asbestos that was found at Furlong Rd, Cairnlea.

“The company had until 4pm on Thursday 27 October to cover all waste at the site and to provide EPA with a report detailing air monitoring for asbestos, which it failed to do,” he said.

Mr Wynne said the State Government would still be taking the matter to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Council to officially order the developers to reinstate the pub.

Developers, Mr Kutlesovski and Mr Shaqiri last week knocked down the 159-year-old hotel without planning permits.

The decision created immense criticism from the City of Melbourne and heritage experts.

In a letter sent to Mr Wynne, the developers said they were sorry for knocking down the pub, but also denied having any involvement in the suspicious fire just days before.

“In effect, (the letter) concedes that the developers have done the wrong thing and they’ve apologised for that,” he said.

“They indicate unequivocally that they will rebuild the hotel, and they expect to enter into a five to 10 year lease with an operator for a new hotel there.”

Corkman’s Pub was previously known as the Carlton Inn and was built in the late 1800s

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