Batavia Motor Inne owners outline intention to demolish derelict Geraldton site as council launch legal action

The owners of the derelict Batavia Motor Inne appear to be at loggerheads with the council over the future of the site. While the owners say they intend to demolish most of the existing building, Geraldton council has flagged a fresh legal challenge to force them to bulldoze the entire site. The owners say their future plans for the site could involve retaining some of the existing structure. However Greater Geraldton councillors voted last week to launch legal action for the demolition of the Batavia Motor Inne and Greenough River Resort, after a last minute amendment to include the Fitzgerald Street building was passed. Owners of the Batavia Motor Inne, 54 Fitzgerald Street Pty Ltd, purchased the property for $572,000 back in September 2021, but no progress has been made in the year since. The company is part-owned by Joe Scaffidi, the husband of former City of Perth Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi, along with fellow directors Michael O’Sullivan and Anthony Scaffidi. In a statement released last week, the directors said they had already applied for a demolition license. “There have been delays in finalising the license due to our preferred contractor availability,” they said. “We are still assessing various development opportunities for the site which could include reuse of the remaining built form. “To date we have spent a considerable amount of money in the evolution of several proposed schemes for the site, one of which involves retaining a portion of the existing structures.” It is unclear how the existing structure would be utilised in a future plan for the site, or what timeline, if any, the owners have for demolition. Despite the owners’ claims, City of Greater Geraldton chief executive Ross McKim said the council had received an incomplete application several months ago. “However, the required information was not provided and the fee was not paid. Officers have been regularly following up with the owners to try and advance the application so it can be approved,” he said. “It has been difficult to contact the owners and little progress has been achieved.” The Batavia Motor Inne site has been the subject of controversy because in the past few years, with many rough sleepers taking shelter in the dilapidated eyesore. It’s the issue regarding a lack of provision of more crisis accommodation that should be the focus, according to the owners. “The use of these locations for shelter will mean when demolition does occur, unless accommodation is provided these people will seek other city buildings for interim cover,” they said. “The focus is unnecessarily on the Batavia where it should be on the lack of crisis accommodation.” The owners said they have considered re-fencing the property in the interim but deemed it pointless given the ongoing damage to existing fencing. “We are committed to the renewal of this site and our focus is on that,” they said. Geraldton MLA Lara Dalton said the Department of Communities had been working to house those sleeping rough at the Batavia to provide them with support and bring them onto the housing waiting list. “I can definitely say the Department of Communities has been working with people experiencing homelessness, making sure they receive ongoing support and are on the housing waiting list,” she said. Eight who have stayed at the Batavia have been housed elsewhere, according to Ms Dalton. “I support the demolition of the Batavia Motor Inne because I do think it creates some anti-social behaviour and it is a risk to people who are experiencing homelessness and accessing the site, and it is also an eyesore and an issue for the residents and businesses around,” Ms Dalton said.