The developers who illegally knocked down the historic Corkman Irish Pub in Melbourne without council approval are suing Planning Minister Richard Wynne in an attempt to gain approval to build a high-rise on the site.
The developers who illegally knocked down the historic Corkman Irish Pub in Melbourne without council approval are suing Planning Minister Richard Wynne in an attempt to gain approval to build a high-rise on the site.
In October last year, developers Stefce Kutlesovski and Raman Shaqiri illegally demolished the pub, which is popular with students of nearby Melbourne University.
The pair had paid $4.76 million for the 159-year-old pub two years ago, and planned to build a high-rise on the site.
After illegally demolishing the pub without gaining planning approval, Kutlesovski and Shaqiri were fined $2 million. The court also ordered the pair rebuild the pub, stating they must "restore and reconstruct in facsimile the building... as it stood immediately prior to its demolition in October 2016, re-using materials from the demolished building where practicable and safe to do so".
The couple are now suing the minister in an attempt to allow high-rise construction on the site.
Last year, Kutlesovski and Shaqiri wrote to Wynne apologising for their "regrettable" actions, and promising to rebuild the pub.
If the couple are allowed to use the site for a high-rise development, the land will increase in value to around $10 million, according to reports in The Age.
A spokesman for Mr Wynne told The Age, "Victoria's heritage must be protected from rogue developers who flout the regulations for financial gain."
Wynne has launched his own legal action, seeking to force the developers to rebuild.
The developers claim the extensive media coverage of the pub’s demolition meant Wynne ruling against them was political, rather than the best planning outcome. They claim the pub was of “relatively low heritage significance".
Read more about the illegal demolition and conservation:
Illegal pub demolition sparks calls for tougher penalties