An old iron shed, which had been the unlikely focus of a recent heritage debate, has now been demolished.
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In April last year, a majority of councillors voted to seek an interim heritage overlay over the structure, part of which lay on a large, privately owned block in Lofven Road in Nerrina.
While one councillor described the building as "literally just timber with tin on it" at the time, others said it could have historic value worth preserving.
According to a heritage adviser report, the iron building was constructed to act as a pump shed for the Eureka Lead Gold Sluicing Company in the 1930s.
Only one third of it lay within the private property, while two thirds of it lay on crown land owned by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP).
Under heritage guidelines any building more than 75 years old can be eligible for consideration for heritage status.
The structure had returned for discussion at a special planning committee just six weeks ago.
However, any debate has now changed forever after the roof of the structure in Lofven Rd in Nerrina reportedly collapsed during a recent storm.
The stability of the structure was deemed unsafe and most of the structure has now been demolished.
According to one of the owners of the plot of the land where the shed stood, its roof fell in during high winds and left the rest of the structure increasingly unstable.
He said after the roof came down a further wall collapsed a short distance from their house.
He has previously told The Courier they carried out due diligence on the purchase and checked for any existing heritage overlays. Thinking there were no obstacles to demolishing the shed, they bought the land in 2018 with the intention of building their own house as a family home.
They encountered an unexpected obstacle in early 2019 when council was contacted by someone suggesting the building may have heritage value.
After councillors agreed to seek a heritage overlay across the property, the owners had to spend thousands of dollars fencing off the shed, as well as adjusting their house building plans.
In July this year, the issue was still unresolved and went to a special planning meeting, with council officers recommending an independent planning panel adjudicate whether the city's planning scheme should be amended to protect it.
Crs Grant Tillett and Samantha McIntosh suggested the structure might make a centrepiece of a park. Councillors agreed to defer a decision in the hope a solution could be found. Only a few weeks later, the shed was no longer standing.
The City of Ballarat confirmed the owner had contacted them to advise the shed had collapsed in a recent storm.
"Council had the shed inspected by an independent building inspector who confirmed that the shed in its current condition presented an immediate risk and should be demolished and a building order was placed on the structure."
"Council agreed and with DELWP's consent the shed was removed."
A council spokesperson said a report was pending and they were awaiting the advice of a heritage adviser about the remaining items.
TIMELINE
July 2018: The block, which is otherwise vacant apart from the shed, is purchased by its current owners.
APRIL 2019: Councillors seek heritage control sought for 1930s mining shed in Nerrina
AUGUST 2020: The livestream from the special planning meeting is released publicly. It shows how councillors de