While clearing 95 Albury Street of asbestos and retaining the facade is achievable, it’s been decided the whole building will go due to the barriers associated with keeping only the front.

Public Works Advisory director Martin Dwyer spoke at Greater Hume’s council meeting ahead of the decision to approve the demolition – which had already been deferred once due to councillors pushing for a better alternative.

“The general rule is if you have Mr Fluffy in the roof of your home, the only enduring solution is demolition … then this one came along,” he said.

“This building is old enough so that it doesn’t have cavity brick walls.

“The roof also doesn’t extend over the walls – so it is technically feasible that this building could have the Mr Fluffy removed, you could clean up the brick facade and retain it.

“I wouldn’t be telling you it’s technically feasible for any another building than this one.”

Mr Dwyer estimated keeping the facade would cost an extra $200,000 and indicated that would have to be contributed by council or a developer.

“It would be difficult … you’d have to have a slower demolition, more cleaning, and you really wouldn’t know how much it would cost until you’d finished,” he said.

“Of course once you have the facade there it would limit the development opportunities … somebody has got to step up and actually want to do it, and if you find that person we will work with them.”

Mayor Heather Wilton questioned the likelihood of such an outcome.

“If the facade were retained, there is the big ‘if’ – will somebody come along and want to buy it?” she said.

Councillor Tony Quinn said no matter what the building should be protected.

“It’s part of the heritage of the place and it’s sad to see it all torn up … surely there must be a way, if there was a will to do these things.”

Despite his and Cr Annette Schilg’s opposition, the development application to demolish the building was approved.

Loose fill Asbestos Taskforce operations director Stewart Scarlett said the scope of the program was to identify and demolish properties and the taskforce did not want to deviate from that.

“Demolition of properties in Holbrook should be wrapped up by the end of this calendar year,” he said.

The program is at different stages throughout the shire with two properties wrapped ahead of demolition in the past fortnight in Culcairn.