A fire-damaged building at the Wangaratta Showgrounds may have to be demolished after an inspection deemed it was not viable to repair.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The old, timber-framed building is located in a heritage overlay area at the showgrounds and was being used by the football umpires before it became the target of a suspected arson attack last year.
Umpires have been unable to use the building ever since and it has remained unoccupied.
Wangaratta Council planning documents have revealed that after an inspection on April 5 this year, it is unlikely the building can be saved.
A letter from Connext senior structural engineer Karl Hutchinson stated it "may not be economically viable" to complete the works to make the building structurally sound.
"Fire damage has occurred to the western end of the building through the roof space of an attached building," he said.
"It is recommended to consider the option of demolishing the existing structure and constructing a new purpose-built building."
The inspection found the fire did not cause any structural integrity issues to the roof timbers, but there was another problem - termites.
There was termite damage visible in the walls lining and evidence of a termite infestation in some sections of the timber roof truss.
Plus the floor was out of level, with a 70-millimetre difference in level over 4.5 metres.
The lowest point, in the south west corner, "was quite damp and drainage appeared to be unsatisfactory".
Mr Hutchinson said to make the building structural sound again the plumbing would need to be inspected, the hardwood stumps replaced with concrete footings and the walls propped.
Details of his assessment have been put on public display by the council, which will not make a decision before April 26.
The incident was the third in three years where a fire, suspected of being deliberately lit, had started at the conclusion of the Wangaratta Show.
Wangaratta Agricultural Society president Bernie Evans told The Border Mail at the time that it appeared a firebug had been targeting the show and "this year he's gone for bigger and better things".
Horse stables and bins had been damaged by the fires in the past.
Police suspected the incidents may have been linked to fires at other agricultural shows.
IN OTHER NEWS:
Receive our daily newsletter straight to your inbox each morning from The Border Mail. Sign up here
