Stop Use Order issued to Goulburn's Alpine Heritage Motel due to alleged health and fire risks

The Alpine Heritage Motel in Goulburn is currently closed due to a Stop Use Order issued by Goulburn Mulwaree Council. Photo: Alpine Heritage Motel.

Owners of the Alpine Heritage Motel in Goulburn continued to operate for a few days during the holiday period despite a Stop Use Order that was issued by Goulburn Mulwaree Council in November 2021.

Council’s Emergency Development Control Order issued on 19 November, 2021, prohibited the premises from operating for the purposes of accommodation due to “risks associated with fire safety and public health”.

However, according to a statement issued by council this week, the premises continued to operate and was “putting the lives of occupants and patrons at risk”.

The order states the premises does not have a current fire safety statement and requires “significant fire safety upgrades to be undertaken throughout the premises”.

It also states the building constitutes or is likely to “constitute a life-threatening hazard or a threat to public health or public safety”.

Council claims the presence of black mould “poses a serious threat to the health and wellbeing of occupants and patrons”.

“We strongly encourage community members and visitors to our region to choose another accommodation provider.”

The rooms at the Alpine Heritage Motel in Goulburn are being deep cleaned after claims black mould posed a health risk. Photo: Alpine Heritage Motel.

The motel was purchased by its current owners in April 2018 and since that time they have carried out renovations to most of their guest rooms.

In a statement issued to Region Media, the owners acknowledged they should not have opened for a couple of nights over the new year period but said they were “committed to rectifying all problems correctly so they can reopen their business and welcome back all of their loyal guests”.

Housekeeping have commenced a deep clean of all guest rooms and the owners have “endeavoured to locate the black mould”, however “despite extensive searching did not find any visible black mould in the building”.

The closure comes after a difficult year for the motel’s owners due to COVID-19 restrictions when they were forced to cancel bookings.