IT WAS going once.
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It was going twice.
Now Tamworth Regional Council is hoping it will be three times and rolled with the demolition of a Manilla house just one vote away.
In a closed meeting on Tuesday night, councillors will vote on the future of the house at 24 Northbrook Lane, hopefully putting an end to a prolonged saga.
READ MORE:
- March 2017: Tamworth Regional Council to vote on future of neglected Manilla property
- Tamworth Regional Council pull the pin on Manilla demolition proposal of Northbrook Lane house at the last minute
- Tamworth Regional Council warns demolition could cost the community
- Tamworth Regional Council to meet with owner of Northbrook Lane property
The fire-ravaged, asbestos-ridden property was first highlighted in the 2016 council election campaign by a Manilla local and candidate, Warwick Lindsay, who described the perceived inaction on the property over the years as a “one-fingered salute” to the town.
After repeated attempts to contact the owner of the house, the council was ready to rev-up the bulldozers in March 2017.
However, the owner reached out to the council just hours before councillors were set to vote on the issue and scuttled the plan.
Then planning director Peter Thompson said a meeting would be arranged and didn’t expect an “extraordinary delay” on a resolution.
The property was also on a closed council agenda in November 2017.
Nearly two years later, the council is once again being asked to tear down the property.
“This dwelling has been left abandoned for some years and has been severely damaged by fire,” council manager of environment and health Ross Briggs wrote in his report to the councillors.
“Testing has revealed that the dwelling contains fire damaged asbestos, which is a health hazard.
“The dwelling is in such a dilapidated state that it is prejudicial to the health of the public.”
If councillors back the demolition, a contractor will be sought to tear down the house.
The council would then “seek to recover the costs of demolition and other associated expenses to date as a debt on the land to be registered with the NSW Registrar General.”