Earlier this year, the court ordered owner Paul Rintel to pay $5000 to the Make A Wish Foundation for having failed to comply with a Hindmarsh Shire Council building order to demolish the building almost two years ago. 

Magistrate Jack Vandersteen also ordered Mr Rintel to complete repairs to improve the hotel’s safety by April 30 and ‘substantially start’ planned redevelopments by December 31.

The hotel was gutted by fire in 2003 and Mr Rintel bought the property for $1 in 2004. 

Hindmarsh chief executive Tony Doyle said council inspected the building in early May and observed that the court order had not been complied with. 

“Council wrote to the property owner requesting him to complete the works by May 22, 2013,” he said.

When the works were not completed, Mr Doyle said council had no option but to make application to the court to enforce council’s original order to demolish the building. 

“The court has ordered the property owner to demolish the remainder of the building, except for the facade, and remove the roof tiles by November 25, 2013,” he said.

“Council’s priority has always been for the site to be cleaned up and the building made safe.” 

In 2012, the property owner was granted a planning permit to redevelop the site retaining the existing facade.