BATHURST Regional Council is being urged to reject a development application which would see fake ivy added to the facade of the Edinboro Castle Hotel in William Street.
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Staff have determined the proposed artificial ivy treatment would dominate the facade, which they say is unacceptable for an important Victorian building.
Environmental planning and building services director David Shaw reported that this treatment is not consistent with the facades in the Bathurst Heritage Conservation Area and will have an adverse affect on the streetscape.
Initially the owner of the building spoke with council about erecting panels of artificial ivy which would cover most of the front of the building, giving it a stylish modern appearance.
The artificial ivy comes in panels of one metre by three metres, is made of polyethylene (PE) vinyl and would be attached to the building’s facade.
However, when this was not acceptable to the heritage consultant, the owner of the building went away and came back with a revised plan.
The current proposal before council uses a reduced amount of artificial ivy.
Council’s heritage consultant told the owner that the building would benefit from a new strong and cohesive colour scheme, and if this was implemented, a “more minimalist ivy treatment might be tolerated”.
She said the applicant, however, had not sought to update the building with a strong colour scheme.
The recommendation, which will come before council at tonight’s meeting, is to refuse the development application.
The proposal involves repainting the walls, verandah posts and window frames below awning level and painting the window frames only above awning level. The area above the awning will remain its current colour.
The proposal also includes installing ornamental artificial ivy to the facade above and below the awning.
In his report, Mr Shaw indicated that new or existing shop fronts should be based on the characteristic elements of traditional shopfronts within the vicinity.
“In preparation for this proposal, the applicant sought pre-lodgement advice from council’s planning officers and heritage advisor in relation to the covering of the entire above awning facade with artificial ivy,” he said.
“Council was not supportive of the proposal as it felt that it would not be appropriate to the current William Street landscape.”
