A WYNDHAM councillor’s bid to launch a feasibility study into the relocation of Werribee’s Davis House has failed.
Chaffey ward’s Cr Marcel Mahfoud last week asked councillors to consider commissioning the study because he was concerned the developer was not meeting the conditions of a demolition permit.
The council granted the permit in July subject to conditions including that it could not be knocked down for 12 months and that the developer had to try to find somewhere to relocate the building.
Cr Mahfoud said he wanted to “get the process of relocating the house going” and for its structural integrity to be assessed.
His motion was supported by Crs Cynthia Manson, Bob Fairclough and Adele De Crescenzo but was ultimately defeated by mayor Kim McAliney’s casting vote. Cr Heather Marcus was excused from the chamber after declaring a conflict of interest.
Cr Mahfoud told the Weekly he was disappointed. He said he had approached councillors before the meeting and thought he would have their support.
“I am concerned with what we are losing. [Davis House] has been sitting there for over 100 years.
“I wasn’t asking council to foot the bill. I wanted a study and then we could have looked at getting community funding.”
But Cr Shane Bourke believed there were local buildings with more historical significance than Davis House.
Cr John Menegazzo said as it was not council-owned it was not the council’s responsibility to relocate it.
Wyndham Heritage Recovery Group member Harry van Moorst said the group felt let down and would keep fighting for the house to be relocated. “There are people in the community who believe history is part of the community and they ought to band together and let the council know they care.”
