Latest news with #Millthorpe
ABC News
15-07-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Grand Western Lodge and Blayney Council's $60,000 footpath battle
The owner of a historic building and a New South Wales council are in a bitter dispute over a footpath, which has already cost ratepayers tens of thousands of dollars, and there is no end in sight. Retired investment banker Ian Gillings has threatened legal action against Blayney Shire Council in the state's Central West over its plan to fix a dilapidated footpath outside his business in Millthorpe, near Orange. Mr Gillings purchased the run-down 1901 Grand Western Lodge on Victoria Street at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and spent more than two years renovating the federation-era property into accommodation for miners. But he is not happy with the state of a bitumen pavement footpath that straddles the state heritage-listed building's wrap-around balcony. Mr Gillings has likened the footpath to a poorly maintained country road, filled with potholes and water damage. "The footpath is in dangerous and is in bad repair," he said. As part of its broader Millthorpe Village Masterplan, the council plans to fix the footpath with asphalt, which Mr Gillings opposes. He alleges the material would worsen water damage in the building, by allowing water to penetrate the cellar, and is not aesthetically appropriate for the heritage. "I don't want my building to fall apart," he said. Instead, he wants to replace it with bluestone, a more porous and durable product that matches the kerbs and guttering in the heritage conservation area. Mr Gillings has even offered to foot the entire estimated $80,000 bill and sign a 99-year guarantee to cover maintenance and costs associated with it. "It doesn't work like that from our risk perspective nor our insurance and liability," Blayney Shire Council's general manager Mark Dicker said. "We need to have a fit-for-purpose product not a Rolls Royce product, particularly when heritage advice doesn't agree with it." Council's heritage advisor and Heritage NSW have given the green light to its existing plans to replace the asphalt path with like-for-like, in line with rest of the village. Its independent engineering advice found the proposed renewal works would not change the conditions that have resulted in rising damp in the lodge. But a report by Calare Civil, hired by Mr Gillings, found the bluestone pavers would be the "best practice approach". "The permeable pavers along with their dark colouring will promote escape of soil moisture through evaporation as opposed to directing water up the building walls," the report said. When council said no to Mr Gillings's offer, he commenced legal proceedings in the NSW Land and Environment Court in April. They have since been discontinued after the council agreed to temporarily pause the planned upgrade. It means the footpath will remain in its poor state for now. "It is the most incomprehensible thing ever," Mr Gillings said. "I have no idea why they'd want to waste money in court rather than just say, 'Fine, we'll take your money.'" The council estimated the legal proceedings could cost up to $150,000 and that money remains set aside if they recommence. "Noone wins going to court; that's a last resort from us," Mr Dicker said. "This has quite frankly wasted over $30,000 of money plus numerous hours of staff time." Mr Gillings also said it had so far cost him $30,000 in legal fees. Mr Gillings said the footpath stoush was the latest hurdle he had faced since purchasing the building, which had a tainted reputation. The lodge gained the unfavourable title "house of horrors" after stories about its previous owner's treatment of discharged psychiatric patients who lived in the hotel-turned-private boarding house emerged in the early 2000s. A class action resulted in a payout of more than $4 million to approximately 50 claimants. In spite of its history, Mr Gillings saw a business opportunity in re-opening the lodge and has no plans of backing down in the stoush with the council. "The moment they give me notice that they're doing it [fixing the path with asphalt] they'll be in the Land and Environment Court."
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
"Like 1,000 fireworks' nights": D-Day veteran gives talk at Millthorpe
A D-Day veteran gave an "inspirational" talk to students about his experiences during World War II. Ken Cooke, who turns 100 this year, visited Millthorpe School to speak to 240 Year 9 students. The visit was organised after Mr Cooke's granddaughter, who works at the school, mentioned that he was in Normandy for the 80th anniversary commemorations last year. The visit was organised after a remark by Mr Cooke's granddaughter, who works at the school (Image: Supplied) Assistant principal and teacher Adam Baybutt was eager to invite Mr Cooke to speak to the students. The students had recently learned about D-Day as part of their history curriculum and were chosen to hear Mr Cooke's talk. To prepare for the talk, the students investigated other D-Day readings, including one from a diary of another D-Day veteran, WM Christie, who is the great-great-grandfather of a current Year 9 student. To prepare for the talk, the students investigated other D-Day readings (Image: Supplied) Mr Cooke, who was called up aged 18, shared his experiences of being sent to basic training and arriving in Southampton on June 4, 1944, realising he was about to take part in something monumental. He landed at Gold Beach at 7.45am on June 6, 1944, and despite his young age and lack of training, he recalls a sense of excitement. He described the scene to be "like 1,000 fireworks' nights all at once. "I don't know why I did it, but I just rested on the side and watched it all happen." It was only when he learned of the tragic deaths of some of his friends that the enormity and danger of the situation began to sink in. Mr Cooke later suffered a serious shrapnel wound and returned to Britain to recover. Mr Cooke was called up at the age of 18 (Image: Supplied) He returned to action in Germany, where he was injured for a second time towards the end of the war. His hour-long talk concluded to "rapturous applause" from the students, who were deeply moved by his first-hand account. He left the students with a powerful message for the future: "I want you to promise me now that you won't let what happened to me, happen to you. "Can you promise me that?" Mr Baybutt said: "It is difficult to put into words just how fortunate and privileged we feel at being able to welcome Mr Cooke into our school. "This is undoubtedly a highlight of my 17-year career at Millthorpe. "The students were impeccable and listened to Ken's talk with interest and complete respect." Students from other year groups who did not attend the talk were invited to come along to the main hall at the end of the school day, and more than 80 students did so. They waited patiently to meet Mr Cooke, shake his hand, ask pertinent questions, and even have a photo taken. After the talk, many students wrote letters of thanks to Mr Cooke.
