Multiple fires at council-owned property under investigation
Police are investigating two structure fires which broke out on the same council-owned Rocherlea property on Saturday afternoon and evening.
A derelict house and shed were completely destroyed by the separate fires which occurred four hours apart at 126-128 Russells Plains road on Saturday, October 14.
Tasmania Fire Service attended the first structure fire at the property about 4:50pm to find a shed had been completely destroyed by fire which had been "impinging on a house" on the property.
Crews brought the fire under control and left the site only to be called back about 9:55pm to find the house engulfed in flames.
A TFS spokesperson said the fire was then contained by firefighters to the house, "making sure it didn't spread" and let it destroy the building.
The matter has since been handed over to police and is being investigated.
"There is some unknown cause that police are following up to why [the fires] started," the spokesperson said.
A file image of 126-128 Russells Plains road, Rocherlea. Picture by Craig George
A Tasmania Police spokesperson said the fires were being investigated by the criminal investigation branch and forensic teams, and had not confirmed if they were lit deliberately.
City of Launceston council had discussed the Russells Plains property - which was the target of an arson attack in 2022 - at a meeting in September and had agreed to demolish the dwelling and shed.
Launceston mayor Matthew Garwood said the demolition was due to take place in coming weeks.
He said council would assess damage from the "most recent arson attack" and determine what remaining demolition and clean-up works are required.
THE EXAMINER STORY By Joe Colbrook September 25 2023
THE EXAMINER STORY By Joe Colbrook September 25 2023
The question of what to do with thousands of acres of land in Rocherlea lingers.
The City of Launceston council purchased 126-128 Russells Plains Road in 1997, and it was earmarked as a future landfill site to replace the current facility off Remount Road.A derelict house stands at 126-128 Russells Plains Road, Rocherlea. Picture by Craig George
Originally a farm, the property comprises 862 hectares of agricultural land with two houses on it.
The council leased these to tenants, and planned to do so until the time came to convert the property to a landfill.
Council documents said residents had to deal with trespassers, wood hookers, illegal dumping and theft, which officers said made it a "difficult property on which to reside".
One tenant left the property in 2022, telling the council they were in "constant fear".
"I don't believe anyone in council have any real idea what's happening on the property," they said.
"Has to be seen to be believed lol. It's just constant fear of being robbed and having cars or belongings taken.
"There is no presence of council and/or police to stop this sort of thing happening ... Pity as it is a nice spot up there."
ears on
The vacant house was destroyed in an arson attack in June 2022, and the remaining one is set to be demolished after a council vote on September 21.
Deputy mayor Hugh McKenzie said taking the house off the market and demolishing it was a hard decision to support, but repairing it would be "putting good money after bad".
The house is on nearly 900 hectares of land initially bought to expand the nearby landfill site. Picture by Craig George
"It isn't a safe place for people to reside," Cr McKenzie said.
"Yes, we could spend money and refurbish the house. My sense is that would probably be putting good money after bad based on the history of the property.
"It's very sad to say that because property should be respected by everybody in the community. Unfortunately, it's not."
Councillor Danny Gibson also spoke in favour of demolishing the house, and said the situation was sad, but the result of a "small minority" of badly-behaved people.
Council officers estimated it would cost about $300,000 to make the remaining house habitable, while demolishing it would cost about $47,000.
Councillor Tim Walker spoke against demolishing the house, saying the property had become uninhabitable because the council neglected its duties, and demolishing it would not fix the underlying problem.
"There are hundreds of rural properties around Launceston right now that are not in that particular state," Cr Walker said.
"Don't tell me that just because the council owns the land somehow it's harder to manage than any other rural property around Launceston. It's not."
The house has been vacant for months, and in a state of disrepair. Picture by Craig George
Cr Walker found some support around the table, with councillor Andrew Palmer saying the council should "continue to do our damnedest" to restore the property and councillor Joe Pentridge saying it should remain a home.
A motion approving the demolition of the house passed 7-5, with councillors Susie Cai, George Razay, Andrew Palmer, Joe Pentridge and Tim Walker voting against.
With the building's fate settled, discussion turned to the land's future use.
Although the property was destined to become a landfill, council documents suggest that it is now unlikely as the lifespan of the Remount Road facility has been extended to 2050.
This coincides with the council's planned transition away from landfill.
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Alternative uses for the land included an industrial estate, recreation ground and potentially some residential land, however the extent of this is limited by the need for buffer zones with the landfill.
The council was far more united in discussing the land's future, with Cr Walker urging his colleagues to make use of the opportunity they had been given.
"What I would like to see in this particular area is a development ... that is planned better than anything that we've ever done before," he said.
A motion "prioritising" a decision on whether the site should be a landfill, and commissioning a land use study passed unanimously.
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