Sentencing submissions heard in Darko Krajinovic Mount Stuart heritage home demolition case

A West Moonah property developer awaiting sentence for the second round of charges relating to his illegal demolition of a heritage-listed house is facing fines totalling more than $100,000. DETAILS >>>

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THE controversial property developer who illegally demolished his heritage home and its footings atop Mount Stuart was motived by the “holy dollar” and should face the maximum fines available, a court has heard.

Last month, Darko Krajinovic was found guilty in the Hobart Magistrates Court of three offences related to removal of stone footings at 55 Mount Stuart Road in October 2018.

The charges related to the failure to ensure demolition complied with building legislation, failing to engage a building surveyor for demolition work, and performing notifiable demolition work.

The illegal removal came in the wake of Krajinovic’s initial February 2017 destruction of the site, which he carried out with an excavator and saw neighbours raise concerns about his alleged exposure of live powerlines, disturbing of asbestos and removal of two heritage-listed trees in the process.

The partially demolished house at Mount Stuart in 2017. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

Krajinovic was previously convicted and fined $225,000 after pleading guilty to nine charges related to the 1888-built home’s demolition in February 2017.

Before Magistrate Jackie Hartnett on Monday, in his sentencing submissions, prosecutor Tom Cox said the breach of planning and heritage laws for commercial gain was “abhorrent.”

He said Krajinovic’s conduct had a number of aggravating factors including that he had shown no remorse, his evidence during the case was not reliable or credible and he had done it all before.

“His systemic demolition of the building in defiance of the law shows his tendency to undertake work in the knowledge it was without approval – and he’s done it for the holy dollar,” Mr Cox said.

Darko Krajinovic had fully demolished the heritage listed dwelling at 55 Mount Stuart Road Mount Stuart by May 2020 to make way for four new townhouses. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

Mr Cox said the fines were viewed by Krajinovic as just part of doing business, he had robbed the community of a heritage property and had shown “utter contempt” for planning laws.

He said the maximum fines should be imposed on all three charges, which would be a total of approximately $118,000.

Defence lawyer Nicholas Edmondson said his client was a Serbian refugee with a wife and six children living in West Moonah.

He said Krajinovic had an “inherent drive” to improve his family’s lot in life and his sole income was derived from property development.

Darko Krajinovic leaves the Hobart Magistrates Court. Picture: EDDIE SAFARIK

The court heard he currently worked 12 hours days, six days a week developing a property on Amy St, Moonah while the Mount Stuart development was on hold.

In May 2019, Krajinovic was granted council approval to go ahead with the development of four $1.2 million townhouses at the Mount Stuart site.

Mr Edmondson said the latest offences were “vastly different” to the previous for which Krajinovic had already been fined, being the demolition of a stone wall rather than the partial demolition of a home.

The matter was adjourned for sentence on June 8.