By KATH GANNAWAY
BOB Prudhoe, builder of Warburton’s famous sculpture house says he will leave the town he loves rather than sabotage an integral part of the building that has been widely acclaimed as an evolving work of art.
But Yarra Ranges Council, which issued a demolition order on part of the building, says public safety has to be the priority.
They have no choice, they say, but to enforce their building and planning regulations to protect Mr Prudhoe and others from possible injury, and Yarra Ranges ratepayers from potential litigation.
The bad news came after a visit from Yarra Ranges Council compliance officers on 9 September, just days after the house and its owner were filmed for an episode of Better Homes & Gardens.
Mr Prudhoe has subsequently received an order to demolish the part of the building previously damaged by fire, and deemed by council to be unsafe.
He is also required to remove anything that encroaches on council land.
Acting Director of Planning, Building and Health, Kim Marriott, said officers were also concerned that building works have been completed without a permit, and build partly on council land.
Mr Prudhoe told the Mail that to move the ‘tree-house’ would destroy the synchronicity of the two separate but complementary buildings that are on either side of Highfield Road, looking down over the centre of town.
“They have avoided the word demolition, but it would have to be demolished before it could be moved,” he said.
The house, which is widely renowned as a major tourist drawcard has featured in articles in mainstream and social media, and in documentaries and travel programs worldwide.
An invitation from the makers of Extreme Homes which celebrates ‘amazing’ architecture in Australia and is broadcast to American TV with an audience of 80 million viewers, it is the latest of many approaches Mr Prudhoe has considered in recent times.
Yarra Ranges Council has previously acknowledged the artistic value of the house and turned a blind eye to the issue of planning and building permits.
In 2002, council spokesman James Martin was quoted in The Age as saying “Robert’s house lends itself well to the council’s idea of the artistic character of Warburton and it certainly adds vibrancy to the area”.
Cr Jim Child, Mayor and O’Shannassy Ward representative, said it had come to a point where council officers were saying it was a real concern as far as council’s liability was concerned.
“If someone does go onto that site and is injured, or injured on council land where it encroaches on council land, and we’ve been seen as a local government authority to have allowed this, I believe we’re liable,” Cr Child said.
“I completely appreciate Bob’s knowledge, his artistic capability and what he has given with this structure, but the structure, like any artwork, has to conform with the regulations we have in place.”
“Unfortunately, the situation has arrived now that we have a problem,” he said.
“We have to look at what council’s liability is now, and work through this with Bob,” he told the Mail.
Conforming for Mr Prudhoe is not within the spirit of his last two decades of creating something he says is inspired and motivated with absolute passion from “spirit”.
“Spirit has no boundaries,” he said.
“I have lived in Warburton for a long time and the only reason I stay here is because I love the place and its people,” he said, adding he had done his best to create interesting work that attracts tourism to Warburton.
