CROWD control was in place at council chambers on Wednesday night when the Nautical Lady Tower’s future was reduced to ruins.
City of Busselton rangers took the role seriously allowing residents into the building not a minute before 5pm.
After winning the vote of numbers at Monday night’s special access meeting the late item was added to the council agenda with three options for councillors to decide upon.
They could proceed to referendum in conjunction with the council election in October or conduct a referendum now.
Councillors unanimously voted in favour of option three, to demolish the tower and not proceed to a referendum.
After heckling from a crowd of five, deputy mayor Grant Henley threatened to clear the gallery before the final vote was cast.
Former owner of the tower David Couch said the vote demonstrated an “absolutely shocking” display of democratic governance.
Cr Jenny Green was first to speak and told the gallery she did not expect ratepayers to spend $60,000 on a referendum.
“This would be with the added expectation for them to fund over $600,000 on building restoration costs,” Cr Green said.
“In my opinion this would be towards a building that would provide little return to the community and it’s not financially viable.”
Councillor Tom Tuffin said stalling the demolition of the tower until a referendum in October was an unreasonable request.
“Five years ago we were finalising the plans for the foreshore re-development, then was the time to speak out,” he said.
The City of Busselton chief executive officer Mike Archer said the tower’s demolition was imminent but a specific date was not available.
