Coolamon Shire Council ratepayers could face a bill of up to $85,000 for the demolition of Matong’s pub and removal of its wreckage.
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The council issued an emergency order to knock down the 102-year-old ‘Farmers Home Hotel’ earlier this month after an early morning fire ripped through the vacant structure.
The company that owns the pub has a long history of legal battles with the council and was given a last-minute reprieve from demolition last year.
Council development and environment executive manager Colby Farmer said councillors had been presented on a report on the demolition, which cost $5000; and the potential cost of conveying the wreckage to landfill, which could reach $80,000.
“Council resolved, in the first instance, that staff request via written correspondence to the owner that the owner pay for the demolition cost and all demolition waste be removed from the site within 30 days,” he said.
“The likelihood is that we are not going to get costs.”
Mr Farmer said the council would have to decide whether it was worth it to go to court and fight the owners for costs when paying for the cleanup could be the cheapest option.
The officer in charge was not available to comment on the investigation into the fire.
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