PERTH City Councillors are becoming concerned about the demolition of “heritage” buildings within the CBD.
At council’s September 26 meeting, councillors approved the demolition of the old City Milling warehouse on the south western corner of James and Fitzgerald streets, Northbridge.
The building will make way for a car park to service the Northbridge Continental Supermarket.
Council had originally wanted to keep a section of the wall in memory of the building, but, this was deemed to be too difficult.
A staff note to council said the building was considered to be of significant historical significance and had been entered onto council’s Draft Municipal Heritage Inventory.
However, the building is in extremely poor structural condition.
Cr Bert Tudori said it was unbelievable the building could be described as heritage.
“Even the white ants have run away it’s in such poor condition,” Cr Tudori said.
Cr Jennifer MacGill said it was sad that such a building had to be demolished.
She said too many of Perth’s old buildings were being allowed to deteriorate. Often the only solution was to demolish them.
Part of the problem has been council’s tardiness in preparing its Municipal Inventory of Heritage Places.
The register was supposed to be completed in 1995. The council’s was recently released for public comment.
The register allows the Heritage Council of WA to assess which buildings need to be entered onto the State Heritage Register.
Cr Laurance Goodman said if buildings were listed on the State register, there were mechanisms council could use to ensure they were properly maintained.
