THE demolition of the grain silo at Bellevue was completed last week after its mooted demise in 2014.
The land where the silo is based is owned by the Public Transport Authority but leased by Brookfield Rail and then sub-let to CBH Group.
As part of the lease agreement, CBH was advised it must demolish the silo and leave the land as it was before the lease was signed with Brookfield Rail.
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READ NOWIn December 2014 the Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority received an application to demolish the silo, which was built in the 1960s.
The development application was referred to the State Heritage Office and the MRA but the paperwork took a further two years to process before the application could be given the go-ahead.
At the time then planning minister John Day said that the silo would not be considered for the State Register of Heritage Places.
“As noted previously, while no proposed use for the site would require planning approval from the MRA, the site is owned by the PTA and all suggestions for future uses should be directed to this agency.”
Association chairman at the Bellevue Ratepayers and Residents, Martin Chape said the MRA had advised him in the two year period, that the requested heritage listing by the group ‘was not possible’.
The decision was conditional on the site being recorded for archival purposes before any demolition took place.
MORE: Differing views on CBH Bulk Grain Silo demolition
Mr Chape said the decision was disappointing.
“We believed the iconic building should be retained,” he said.
Midland MLA Michelle Roberts said it seemed senseless to demolish the site without a plan for a new building to replace it.
Heritage Minister Albert Jacob said the Heritage Council resolved in September 2015 not to recommend the former CBH grain transfer terminal in Bellevue for inclusion in the State Register of Heritage Places.
“However, the council recognised the important role the place played in Western Australia’s grain transport system and it will work with owner, the Public Transport Authority, to develop an interpretation strategy which will tell the story of the place in the future development of the site,” he said.