Demolition suspended

The former St John of God Hospital eyesore will not be demolished by the December deadline put on the owners by the Bunbury City Council in May.

Spokesman for the owners Jan Zuideveld said it would not be flattened before Christmas after asbestos was found in the building.

‘‘It is not happening as fast as we would like,’’ Mr Zuideveld said.

The council is yet to grant the owners an extension to the deadline date although it is clear demolition is moving too slowly to be completed on time.

The South Western Times understands delays in the work is costing the owners hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Development plans for the site had stalled in previous years due to economic strains, but the owners have submitted a new proposal, splitting the site into three ‘‘super lots’’.

The site could become the home of three apartment towers if the owners’ vision of 120 units is realised.

The towers were approved by the council on the condition the dilapidated hospital was knocked down by Christmas.

Lowes Churchill & Associates director Nancy Churchill, whose office in Edward Court looks directly onto the old hospital, said she never expected the owners would meet the deadline.

‘‘I have little faith in the owners, I’m sure they have struggled with the current economic situation, but regardless it is a safety hazard and blight on the city,’’ she said.

The engineering management consultancy moved into the Edward Street offices in 2006 and has seen the vacant hospital deteriorate.

‘‘We are glad they have put up the security fence, the people who were living there and the youth going in and out were the main problem,’’ Ms Churchill said.

‘‘We are delighted they are making progress and understand asbestos needs to be dealt with sensitively.’’

The state of the vacant building has worsened over the years with vandals destroying rooms, covering walls with graffiti, smashing windows and dumping rubbish.

Surrounding residents have expressed frustration about the issue and described it as a source of ‘‘angst and pain’’ since the hospital was vacated in 1999.