Geraldton council to launch legal action to force demolition of Batavia Motor Inne and Greenough River Resort

Geraldton council is set to launch legal action against the owners of the Greenough River Resort and Batavia Motor Inne to force the demolition of both derelict buildings. Under the original motion set to be considered, council would direct the CEO to initiate legal action for the demolition of the Greenough River Resort. After a last-minute amendment was passed at Tuesday’s council meeting, Cr Steve Cooper moved a motion to include the Batavia Motor Inne. Cr Cooper said there was a lot of angst within council and the community concerning the derelict building. “This is an opportunity to put everything aside and do what the community expects of us,” he said. Councillors discussed an executive report on derelict buildings within the city which is set to be prepared by CEO Ross McKim. The report, to be released in three months, will cover what actions need to be taken and detail other derelict buildings in Geraldton for potential demolition. The new motion, containing the Batavia amendment, Greenough River Resort and the CEO’s executive report was carried 8 -0. This is the second time the council has launched legal action over the Batavia with the previous challenge to the old owners resulting in fines. The former hotel was sold to new owners, 54 Fitzgerald Street Pty Ltd, partly owned by property developer Joe Scaffidi, the husband of former City of Perth Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi, in September last year but no progress had been made since. City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn was absent from the debate because of a conflict of interest as a neighbour of the Batavia Motor Inne but hoped a resolution could be found this time. “The last time we went to court for demolition orders on the Batavia Motor Inn the previous owners were fined $25,000 on at least two occasions,” he said. “We’re hoping that the new owners don’t want to pay regulatory fines and will act upon the demolition notice our building and health team intends to file following a site inspection. “We will go back to court should they not comply but that’s an action we’d rather not take, we’d rather the owners take measures to secure or in this case demolish the site.” The Greenough River Resort has been abandoned since the mid-2000s while the Batavia site has been vacant for more than a decade although is still used as accommodation by the city’s homeless population, prompting public outcry over violent and antisocial behaviour. The owners of both sites will have a period of time to respond to the council’s demolition notices.