At this month’s ordinary meeting, councillors unanimously agreed on the action.
Emergency orders were issued on March 8 and December 23 last year for the owner to alter or repair the hotel’s verandah.
During the nine months between orders, complaints were received from the public regarding the verandah structure, according to council’s planning director, Susan Appleyard.
“The minimum requirements are to do all things deemed reasonable to prevent the public entering the area of the structure, to ensure the protection of the public,” Ms Appleyard said.
“Further debris has fallen from the verandah over the six-month period since the second order was issued.”
Ms Appleyard advised the estimated cost of commencing court proceedings was $30,000.
“It would cost $300,000 to do the verandah with no guarantee of getting the funds back,” she said.
Court proceedings will allow the Land and Environment Court to determine if the order should be enforced.
If the court ordered the work to be completed, the owner would be obligated to comply, or otherwise be in breach.
If the owner fails to complete the work by the required date, then council can step in with its contractors to complete the work.
Cr David Harrison said recent work to the Easdown Hotel in Sanger Street had been undertaken by the owner and was a successful makeover with a minimum of disruption to pedestrians.
“The newly built verandah on Easdown Hotel shows what can be done; it looks fantastic,” he said.
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