The safety and condition of the verandah of the Empire Hotel was a focus of attention at Wednesday’s Inverell Shire Council meeting.
A supporting beam was struck by vehicle back in April causing significant damage to the verandah, forcing Council to install a fence which cordoned off the area to the public for safety reason and signage erected to instruct pedestrians to use the laneway as an alternative route.
Inverell Shire Mayor Kate Dight says the owners of the Empire Hotel have been directed to provide to Council, an assessment prepared by a qualified structural engineer as to the safety and condition of the verandah of the building by 30 June.
She says there is a process in place and Council will need to wait to get all the relevant information but also stressed pedestrian movement has been addressed in the area.
