The council has issued an emergency order against Goulburn's Alpine Lodge motel and claimed its state posed a "serious threat" to occupants.
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Council general manager Warwick Bennett said a stop use order, issued on November 19, 2021, prevented the Sloane Street motel from operating due to what the organisation claimed were fire safety and public health risks.
"Since that order to close, they've had time to fix the faults," Mr Bennett said.
"They have not, in our belief, employed proper tradespeople but instead tried to do the work themselves. It is far from meeting fire safety standards. They have also continued to operate over the Christmas and New Year period so we have issued a (public) statement to warn people not to stay there, including those who are attending the indoor hockey tournament this weekend."
Neither the motel's owner or manager have responded to requests for comment. A notice stuck to the motel's door states: "Dear customer, we are temporarily closed on 19/11/2021 due to the building renovation. Sorry for the inconvenience."
Specifically, the order claims:
- The premises does not have a current fire safety statement;
- Significant fire safety upgrades are required to be undertaken throughout the premises;
- The building constitutes or is likely to constitute a life threatening hazard or a threat to public health or public safety. In addition, the presence of black mould also poses a serious threat to the health and wellbeing of occupants and patrons.
Council officers maintain the fire alarm system is not properly connected and that egresses are blocked.
Mr Bennett said the council would apply to the NSW Land and Environment Court next week seeking an injunction to stop the motel's operation. He anticipated this would be granted quickly, with a substantive hearing to follow in which the Alpine Motel's owners could challenge.
"We believe we are on solid legal ground," he told The Post.
"...We have been dealing with them for some time and they've continued to operate. People's lives are at risk. The electrical wiring is shoddy at best and could cause a fire. We have been through one coronial inquiry (in regard to a fatality on Oallen Ford Road) and don't want to go through another."
The GM said during his 30 years in local government he had never been involved in shutting a place down. It was also the only time the council had "gone public" with a statement about its concerns.
He told The Post that staff were alerted before last November after the Alpine commissioned a contractor to assess compliance for an annual fire safety certificate.
"The contractor was so concerned that they contacted us. It encouraged us to inspect the premises and we found very significant fire safety issues and black mould."
In its statement released on Friday morning, the council "strongly encouraged community members and visitors to the region to choose another accommodation provider."
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Louise Thrower
If you have a story to tell, drop me a line at louise.thrower@austcommunitymedia.com.au or call 0418 229 678.
If you have a story to tell, drop me a line at louise.thrower@austcommunitymedia.com.au or call 0418 229 678.
