By BRIDGET SCOTT
RESIDENTS of a quiet beachside suburb have called for action to be taken to clean up a dangerous vandalised hotel.
Members of the Tooradin Coastal Villages Commerce Committee believe the old Tooradin hotel, which was said to have been purchased in March, needs to have work carried out on it before someone is hurt.
The land which the old hotel sits on along the South Gippsland Highway was taken over earlier this year and local resident and vice-president of the commerce committee Dianne Loft said a service station was planned for the block.
She said the old building has sat idle since March and believed there may be plans to demolish it.
“I am not 100 per cent sure what is planned for the site,” she said.
“But it’s been left empty and things have gotten messy.”
Ms Loft said it is located near the local skate park which means there are often children hanging around.
“It isn’t fenced off so it’s easy to access,” she said.
“It doesn’t stop 14 or 15 year olds seeing what they can do in there.”
Ms Loft said she contacted the council which told her that it can only take action if the building has potential to cause harm.
“I am really concerned that two months down the track something major will happen,” she said.
“Then people will say ‘well something should have been done months ago’.”
Committee treasurer Bill Friend said the site was “a disgrace” and the look of it would deter people from stopping in the town.
“It’s right in the centre of town and quite distracting,” he said.
The long-time Tooradin resident said he had also heard of plans for a service station, and has contacted the council for an update.
Ms Loft said it “brings detriment to the town.”
Manager for Planning at the City of Casey Duncan Turner said the council issued a planning permit for this site on 17 December 2013 for the use and development of a service station, development of a restaurant, alteration of access to a road zone and the display of advertising signs.
He added that the permit requires works to commence within two years and to be completed within four years from the date of the permit.
Manager for Building Services at the council James Rouse said the council had recently inspected the building following safety concerns from residents.
“Council has asked the owner to improve security of the site including installing temporary fencing to deter vandalism and trespassing,” he said.
Ms Loft said it was an eyesore for tourists who pass through and it “makes everything look ugly”.
“It’s just a case of getting something done fast,” she said.
