Demolition halted

By Russell Bennett
THE building that survived the Ash Wednesday inferno, which destroyed much of Cockatoo, remains standing this week in the face of the latest onslaught.
Work to demolish Cockatoo’s McBride Street Kinder, which began on Thursday despite a blockade of protesters, was halted on Friday over asbestos fears.
Demolition crews were called off the site after it was found that some of the material was left behind when the demolition of the 1976 building first began.
The reprieve comes after campaigners brought heavy guns to bear in their last ditch battle.
A team of lawyers has offered their services and Gembrook MP Brad Battin has thrown his weight behind the cause.
But despite the mounting fire power and widespread negative media reporting over the weekend Cardinia Shire Council says it is determined to see an end of the troublesome Ash Wednesday icon.
Protesters say they will maintain their campaign until the end and, if the kinder is destroyed, they will campaign against sitting councillors at next year’s elections in revenge for their lack of support.
But besieged Ranges Ward councillor Ed Chatwin said the council was still pushing forward with demolition plans.
“It’s a democratic society,” Cr Chatwin said. “Anyone is free to run against anyone else.”
Mr Battin has encouraged the council to apply for a State Government heritage grant to pay for the building’s restoration.
The council says it has consulted widely on its plans to build an Ash Wednesday memorial on the site but opponents say the council has ignored their proposals to restore the building and use it as the focus of such a memorial.
Cr Chatwin said an agreement to continue works could come as early as yesterday (Tuesday).
He said in order for the council to reconsider the demolition, it needed three councillors to request a special meeting to bring the issue to another vote.
Thursday saw one of the fight’s most vocal advocates injured in a scuffle with workers at the site and on Friday another was taken away by police after a rallying speech from the roof of the partially dismantled building.
Cockatoo Township Committee president Owen Deppeler said “rather prominent legal professionals” had come forward to give advice.
“They approached the group through one of our supporters,” he said. “We’re not going to rest on our laurels; we’re absolutely going to keep fighting.”
But Cr Chatwin asked: “Where’s the money coming from for that?”
“It can’t come from the committee. It would be council fighting against council.”
Mr Deppeler said the town had become overwhelmed with messages of support from both interstate and overseas.
He said on Monday that it was encouraging that the building was still standing – even if only temporarily.
The Cockatoo Township Committee has set up the McBride Street Kinder Fund for community donations to go towards its fight. Contact Emerald Community House on 5968 3881 for details.