State moves fast to stop Corkman pub redevelopers from profiting

UPDATE: “COWBOY” developers who illegally knocked down Corkman’s Pub in Carlton have apologised and vowed to rebuild.

“COWBOY” developers who illegally knocked down Corkman’s Pub in Carlton have apologised and vowed to rebuild.

But Planning Minister Richard 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 last week knocked down the 159-year-old hotel without proper planning permits, attracting 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.”

Mr Wynne said the Government was determined to hold the developers to account.

“I think it’s important the developer has acknowledged that their behaviour was completely inappropriate, but we will continue the action to get an order from VCAT, and we would expect the developer, if we are successful, to abide by that VCAT decision, because heritage is important,” Mr Wynne said.

The State Government says it has moved swiftly to prevent the developers from profiting from the move.

As revealed in yesterday’s Herald Sun, the State Government and the City of Melbourne launched joint action to compel the site owners to rebuild the pub.

Mr Wynne has also imposed a two-year planning control on the site on the corner of Leicester and Pelham streets to maintain the size and scale of the original building.

BRICK BY BRICK: Pub demolishers may be ordered to rebuild

ENVIRONMENTAL THREAT: Dumped asbestos from Carlton pub site: EPA

EX-OWNERS DEVASTATED: Wrecking historic pub ‘disgraceful’ act

The suspicious fire days before the historic pub was demolished. Picture: David Crosling

Rubble at the site of the former pub. Picture: David Crosling

Owners Stefce Kutlesovski and Raman Shaqiri paid $4.76 million for the 160-year-old pub last August, with the vacant land initially estimated to be worth between $8 and 10 million.

Mr Wynne said the restrictive overlay would prevent the owners profiting from any uplift in value of the site.

Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said any plans the developers had for the site were “no longer relevant.”

“If we are successful in VCAT, then the value of that site is very much determined by what you can put on that site, and we’re saying you’ve got to put the pub back,” Mr Doyle said.

“We don’t want people getting away with a wanton act of vandalism and then just washing their hands of it and taking a windfall profit.”

Opposition Planning Minister David Davis said Mr Wynne already had the power to act without the need for VCAT action.

“Minister Wynne could undertake a site specific amendment of the planning scheme that would ensure the developers cannot profit from their destructive misdeeds,” Mr Davis said.

“We invite Minister Wynne to work with us on this goal so the Victorian Parliament can send a strong unequivocal message to developers that cheaters won’t prosper.”

Property Council of Australia spokeswoman Sally Capp said it did not support rushed Government action.

“The penalties in this case have clearly not acted as a deterrent, but a knee-jerk reaction without proper stakeholder consultation is not the solution,” she said.

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@AndyJeffo