The City of Busselton has moved to reassure the community repairing the Old Butter Factory remained a priority.
Since the March fire, the City of Busselton has worked closely with the two main tenants of the Old Butter Factory to progress repairs in the aftermath.
While the section of the building occupied by the Pottery Club was re-opened for business within a relatively short time frame, the level of damage to electrical wiring and structural components in the portion of the building tenanted by the Busselton Historical Society was considerably greater and is still ongoing.
Access to this section of the building remains restricted.
Mayor Grant Henley acknowledged repairs to the building had taken longer than initially anticipated but that at no time had the assessment and repair process stalled.
“There have been many complexities involved in repairing this heritage building and the retrieval and storage of museum pieces,” he said.
“Repairing the building and returning the historical society to the premises in the shortest possible time frame has been, and remains, councils priority.”
The city expects to receive final construction inspection, specifications, works methodology and quantity surveyor documentation this month.
A request for tender for the repair and rectification works will then be awarded with the view to commencing work in November 2018.
The city anticipates completion of works in February 2019.
Mayor Henley thanked the Busselton Historical Society for their patience and flexibility over the past months.
“We acknowledge members are frustrated by the inability to access the building since the fire but public safety is our priority,” he said.
The city has provided temporary accommodation for the Historical Society at the old Busselton Library to conduct meetings and clean artefacts.
A sea container has also been put onsite for storage and ventilation vents installed to protect artefacts.
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