So what is really going on?

There is an old saying; ‘Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practise to deceive!’ which now sums up the Zinnecker’s House saga.

The house has been there for around 90 years and has cost the Shire next to nothing to maintain.

Casting aside two previous decisions to retain it, the current Council decided in April to spend $8000 to demolish this piece of Bridgetown’s history.

The reasons given are all bogus. ‘It would cost too much to restore.’ (So don’t restore it!) ‘We don’t have a use for it.’ (You might find a use in the future, if you simply leave it there.)

The process around the decision to demolish Zinnecker’s is clouded by controversy, with the CEO steadfastly refusing to reveal the identity of the person within the Department of Local Government whom he said belatedly endorsed his advice to councillors there was no need for them to revoke the previous Council decision to retain the building.

This Council, which states its Mission as “to listen to the community...” has now ignored a petition signed by more than 250 locals, as well as the recommendations of a well-attended Special Meeting of Electors which voted overwhelmingly to retain the building.  Instead Council has now required that the building be removed (by others) within four months, or else demolished.

Council’s decision cannot be explained logically.  Why should the building be moved? It would lose its historical context if this was done.  And why the deadline? What problems will the building cause if it is still standing there after January 28?

It seems a simple demonstration of arrogance. Council is so determined to dig in over its decision to demolish the house, it is prepared to trash its own ‘Mission Statement’ and ‘Values’ in order to trample what President Brian Moore contemptuously refers to as “a noisy minority”.

Or is there a hidden agenda. If you ask me, it might have something to do with Zinnecker's next door neighbour Tony Pratico, the Shire Deputy President who owns the Chooks site as well as the property on the other side of Chooks.

If Zinnecker's is demolished and the Visitor Centre operations moved to the old Railway station, as is planned, I wonder what will happen to the site...  perhaps it would be offered for sale?  Would the wealthy and entrepreneurial Mr Pratico be interested in owning a 'super-block' on the main street?