Million-dollar townhouse developer who illegally knocked down Mt Stuart home says he can’t afford fine

He’s a million-dollar developer who owns six properties. But Darko Krajinovic, who illegally pulverised his heritage-listed Mt Stuart home, claims he can’t afford a court-imposed fine. DETAILS >>

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A CONTROVERSIAL property developer who illegally pulverised his 1800s cottage atop Mount Stuart to make way for four $1.2 million townhouses says he won’t be able to pay a court-imposed fine.

Darko Krajinovic was found guilty in the Hobart Magistrates Court in April of three criminal charges related to the removal of stone footings at the Mount Stuart Road site in October 2018.

The charges are additional to nine offences he previously pleaded guilty to, which were related to the house’s initial demolition in February 2017 and for which he was ordered to pay a $225,000 fine.

On Tuesday, Krajinovic was due to be sentenced over the new charges, but Magistrate Jackie Hartnett heard he would argue he had incapacity to pay a fine.

The court heard he owned six properties, receiving $15,000 from each house per annum in rent.

Krajinovic also argued he had liabilities of about $5 million, including the four properties not yet complete at the Mount Stuart Road site.

Darko Krajinovic has now fully demolished the heritage listed dwelling at 55 Mount Stuart Road Mount Stuart. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES.

Ms Hartnett said it seemed his assets outweighed his liabilities, adding “I think he does have capacity to pay a fine”.

Prosecutor Tom Cox said Krajinovic’s argument would “take some convincing”.

Last month, in his pre-sentence submissions, Mr Cox said the breach of planning and heritage laws for commercial gain was “abhorrent” and said Krajinovic had been motivated by the “holy dollar”.

He said the fines were viewed by Krajinovic as just part of doing business.

Mr Cox also argued the maximum fines should be imposed on all three charges, which would be a total of about $118,000.

Krajinovic’s current charges relate to the failure to ensure demolition complied with building legislation, failing to engage a building surveyor for demolition work, and performing notifiable demolition work.

Darko Krajinovic arrives at the Hobart Magistrates Court.

In 2017, Krajinovic knocked down the heritage-listed home with an excavator, to the chagrin of neighbours who raised concerns about his alleged exposure of live powerlines, disturbing of asbestos and removal of two heritage-listed trees in the process.

The site was a well-known eyesore, with vandals leaving the site defaced and graffitied with shattered windows.

In May 2019, Krajinovic was granted council approval to go ahead with developing the townhouses.

He will return to court on August 2.

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