The demolition which is expected to happen in the coming months is part of Northern Grampians Shire Council’s land and building rationalisation policy.

The Wimmera Street building will be cleared and the site levelled under council’s asset management program, making way for a planned open space and beautification project.

The building was structurally unsound and dangerous, and issues were further compacted by the presence of asbestos, an assessment by council’s infrastructure department found. 

Northern Grampians Shire Council mayor Cr Tony Driscoll said the demolition of the Wimmera Street site would lessen the financial burden of maintaining a building which was not suitable for public use in its current condition.

“This Council is committed to saving our ratepayers money where possible, and by no longer paying the costs associated with maintaining this building, we will by delivering considerable savings to the Northern Grampians Shire community,” he said.

“The addition of further parkland and open space will also provide a further boost to the already outstanding aesthetic appeal of the Stawell town centre.”

A demolition permit was already issued for the works.

Council is now waiting on an asbestos report before works to clear the site could begin.

Plans for the area’s redevelopment will be released within the next month.

The former Maternal and Child Health Centre was last used as a base for the Grampians Central West Waste Management and Resource Recovery Group, prior to its relocation in 2014.

The demolition works will form part of Council’s asset management program, aimed at lessening the amount of buildings currently being maintained and lowering the associated costs.

The soon-to-be demolished building is on the corner of the Wimmera and Sloane Street roundabout, opposite Navarre Minerals.