Council officers had recommended the fate of the construction at Lofven Street - viewed as an important heritage building by some and a dilapidated shed by others - be adjudicated by an independent planning panel. However, councillors agreed to defer the item in the hope a solution can be brokered.

The iron building was reportedly set up as a pump shed for the Eureka Lead Gold Sluicing Company in the 1930s.

Councillors requested the item come back before council - either at an ordinary council meeting or a subsequent planning committee meeting - before the end of this term of council. Elections are currently scheduled for October, although that is under review by the state government due to COVID-19 restrictions.

The property was not under a heritage overlay when it was purchased in 2018. However, in January 2019, the City of Ballarat was informed the building on the land, which is split between Crown land owned by DELWP and the private title, may be of heritage value.

In April last year, councillors agreed to seek a planning amendment for permanent heritage control, and request an interim heritage overlay from the state government after a heritage advisor had deemed the site "of local significance".

That overlay was not put in place. Lisa Kendal, the City of Ballarat's strategic planning manager, said this was because the owner had started to build on the site, and state planning officials deemed the risk to the building was no longer thought to be imminent. However, she said this was under review.

The planning scheme amendment also stalled due to unresolved submissions. The site cannot be accessed by the public without the landowners' permission, who would be unlikely to grant it. Both landowner and planners agree the shed is structurally unsound. At present there is no indication who would foot the maintenance or repair bills for the shed if it stays.

The owner of the property told councillors how the intervention had cost thousands of dollars and significant frustration as he had been forced to change his house building plans.

Cr Grant Tillett suggested that the land could potentially be used as a park with the shed as a focal point.

"I believe there are opportunities there, I just don't think they have been approached in the right way," Cr Tillett said.

The planning special committee meeting took place on July 29. It was filmed but not broadcast live and was just recently published on the council's website.

On Tuesday, The Courier contacted one of the owners, who said he just wanted the situation resolved - ideally with the shed's demolition.

He said he bought the property on the understanding its removal would not be an issue.

"I am at my wits' end," he said. "It's gone beyond a joke - this is now two years since I began this process."

SEE PREVIOUSLY

APRIL 2019: Heritage control sought for 1930s mining shed in Nerrina

JULY 2020: Heritage debate over iron shed in Nerrina goes to planning committee

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