Govt condemned over fire
Wednesday February 13 2002

Manly Council has blamed State Government neglect for last week's fire which destroyed a 120-year-old building at the Quarantine Station.

The council, at its meeting on Monday night, adopted an urgency motion by Councillor David Barr condemning the government and demanding that it make immediate provision for proper security, maintenance and fire protection at the historic site.

It will also ask the government to withdraw immediately from the leasing process and provide adequate funding to maintain the Quarantine Station in public hands.

Mr. Barr's motion was carried by 10 votes to one, the sole dissenter being service planning and commissioning committee chairwoman Julie Heraghty.

Cr. Heraghty had earlier tried to stop Cr. Barr's motion being dealt with as an urgency matter, but was outvoted.

"This is a really serious issue, therefore now is not the time to debate it, she said.