A former indoor cricket centre at Fairy Meadow that has sat derelict for more than a decade appears set to continue to be a blight on the streetscape for the foreseeable future.Frank Vellar, a director of family company Vic Vellar Nominees which owns the site, declined to comment when asked about the building's future.He referred Mercury inquiries to project consultant Terry Wetherall, of JBA Urban Planning, who knew nothing of plans for the Princes Hwy location.
Carpet Choice fire: Owner devastated"I honestly haven't got a clue about that," he said.Mr Vellar also had no comment when questioned on the location's future in December 2007.This week, Wollongong City Council's director of planning and environment Andrew Carfield said the council was working with the company to ensure the site remained safe and properly secured."We will take the appropriate action if current circumstances change," he said."Council can only order the owners of a commercial property to clean or remove vegetation and weeds on a site if the property has become a danger or health hazard to nearby businesses or residents."The site had been earmarked for a $7 million call centre back in 2001 until the plans fell through.Concerns were raised about asbestos in the building's roof in November 2006.Shirley Shead, Illawarra co-ordinator of the Asbestos Diseases Foundation of Australia Inc, said that unless the site had been overhauled in the past five months, the health concerns remained.Last February, the spotlight returned when the adjoining building, also owned by Vic Vellar Nominees and occupied by a Carpet Choice outlet, was destroyed by fire.The cause of the blaze has yet to be determined.Mr Wetherall said it was intended to demolish the building, which is also derelict, and replace it with a new commercial premises, but could not provide a time frame on when this would occur.Carpet Choice Fairy Meadow owner Michael Grehan said he was given an assurance by Mr Vellar that the building would be replaced at the time of the blaze."I asked him how long it would take but I could never get an answer," Mr Grehan said.After operating from a shed for the past year, Mr Grehan expects to be established in a new showroom at 81 Princes Hwy, Fairy Meadow, within a week.
