Gold Digger’s Arms to Stand

LAST night the Council voted to reject the development application by MacCallum Inglis to demolish the Gold Digger’s Arms at 77 Main Street, Scone.

Councillors Ron Campbell and Kiwa Fisher supported the development, while all other Councillors, excluding Cr Burns who declared a conflict, voted against the development.

Bev Atkinson and Meryln Rossington spoke in support of the recommendation to reject the application outlining the heritage significance of the building, while Michael Burke from MacCallum Inglis outlined the reasons why the application should be granted.

Michael Burke said MacCallum Inglis are an important local business which provides 52 organisations with sponsorship, serve more than 2,000 clients and support the growing local thoroughbred and cattle industries.

He further explained that the application approval would alleviate the traffic and safety concerns on Main Street and described the Gold Digger’s Arms as ‘significantly compromised’ in terms of its heritage value.

Cr Campbell asked Ms Atkinson if the building was restored who would run it, to which she responded MacCallum Inglis were real estate people who would be capable of running the property or leasing the property.

Cr Collison asked Mr Burke what were his intentions if the application was rejected and he responded they would lodge another development application and fence off the heritage building.

Cr Abbott said the advice from the Environmental Defenders Office should not be taken lightly, “the letter states it is worth saving and confirms that in a legal context.”

She further stated Council’s own independent heritage expert had counseled against the demolition of the building and also Council’s own heritage committee had not supported the application.

Cr Fisher said he believed the heritage building had been significantly underplayed and believed it to be the Gold Digger’s Arms, but questioned the validity of saving the building which he viewed as ‘significantly compromised’.

Cr Campbell said ‘it is just a degraded building’ and questioned why it’s heritage was suddenly considered important.

Cr Watts said her decision to reject the application was based on protecting the heritage building, she noted that the building had been listed on the Council’s heritage register for some time.

Mayor Bedggood in summing up said while he didn’t personally know the heritage value, it was listed in Council’s heritage items, was in a heritage precinct and “so for Council to not protect it makes a mockery of Council’s heritage items.”

Related stories:

• Second Recommendation to Refuse – November 24, 2017.
• Report Bulldozes Application – September 11, 2017.
• Letter: Time has Passed – September 5, 2017
• Letter: Heritage Policy Questioned – September 4, 2017
• Letter: Time to Assess Properly – August 30, 2017
• Letter: History of the Gold Digger’s Arms – August 29, 2017
• Council Meeting – August 2017 – August 29, 2017
• History May be Bulldozed – May 29, 2017