The Geelong Magistrates’ Court on Monday ordered the Owners Corporation responsible for the Belcher’s corner and associated buildings to pay fines totalling $350,000.
The fines were for failing to comply with three Building Orders issued by the City’s Municipal Building Surveyor to protect public safety over the then dilapidated Belcher’s Corner site.
Belcher’s Corner was demolished at the public’s expense in July 2020.
The Owners’ Corporation was also ordered to pay the City’s legal costs of $17,681.76.
But for the plea of guilty, the Court indicated it would have otherwise imposed a fine of $475,000.
The Court considered the offending at the serious end of the scale and noted the failure of the Owners’ Corporation to avert a ‘potential disaster’ by not ensuring regular inspection and maintenance, causing the City to redirect its resources unnecessarily. On that basis, the Court commented that the penalty should serve as a deterrent.
The City of Greater Geelong spent $4.1 million to stabilise and demolish the building in 2020 after severe concrete cancer was found to have compromised the structure’s supporting posts in mid-2018.
“The City of Greater Geelong is continuing to pursue avenues for cost recovery for the stabilisation and demolition works undertaken at Belcher’s Corner to protect community safety,” Director of City Economy Gareth Smith said.
The City of Greater Geelong said the outcome highlighted the need for Owners’ Corporations to ensure they complied with regular inspection and maintenance regimes of the buildings they manage.
The City emphasised its resolve to prosecute those that do not comply with Building Orders in the circumstances, regardless of their own circumstances.
