Demolition proposal for New Farm cottage heads to court

“The buildings are structurally unsound and therefore unsafe, are laid out in a manner that prevents casual surveillance, are an entrapment location, and cannot be secured to restrict access,” a report presented to the council said.

“The buildings are therefore deemed to present a safety issue to surrounding properties and the wider community.”

The property, originally used as a convenience store and tucked behind the Brunswick Hotel, was also reported to be sinking on one side, with one building sinking away from the other.

The reports concluded the work needed to get the cottage structurally sound would reach a “substantial” estimated cost of $220,000, not including work to bring the building up to a liveable standard such as installing…